site.btaPresident Radev Commends Qatar's Efforts to End Hostilities in Middle East

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev conferred with Qatar’s Ambassador to this country, Fahad Ibrahim Al-Mushairi, on January 17. During the meeting, Radev expressed deep appreciation for Qatar’s consistent efforts to end hostilities in the Middle East and secure the release of hostages, the President's Press Secretariat said on Monday.

The Bulgarian President also praised the personal involvement of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in securing the release of the captain and the first mate of the Galaxy Leader vessel, who have been held hostage since the cargo ship was hijacked off the coast of Yemen in 2023.

Radev highlighted the importance of "excellent political dialogue at the highest level" for strengthening bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Qatar and expressed Bulgaria’s readiness to deepen this cooperation further.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Radev commented on the situation involving the two Bulgarian sailors. "I do not want to speculate on this topic like other people," the head of State said, adding that "the fate of our two sailors should not be used for personal PR". "I see this being done all the time by people. Both the previous government and the presidential institution have been actively working on this case. My meeting with the ambassador of Palestine also focused on this," Radev noted. His remarks came in response to a question about his meeting with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Bulgaria, Nasri Khalil Salim Abujaish, during which they discussed efforts to secure the release of the Bulgarian sailors from the hijacked ship. "Efforts are ongoing. I hope we will see positive developments in the coming days," Radev said.