Statement by Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov about the new European sanctions against Damascus

At a meeting yesterday, the EU Foreign Affairs Council decided on a further expansion of sanctions against Syria. These include persons associated with repression by the governing regime and a freeze on loans granted by the European Investment Bank.

These actions will continue until Syria stops the violence, for which the perpetrators must be held responsible. The only way out of the severe crisis in Syria is an immediate cessation of violence and the holding of free elections, under international supervision, in which the Syrian people choose the way in which country will develop.

Bulgaria strongly condemns the fact that Syrian authorities allowed the carrying out of attacks against the diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and France in the country.

Bulgaria, together with other EU countries, supports the ongoing efforts by the Arab League to resolve the crisis, including through strengthening international isolation of the regime in Damascus.