Bulgaria Hails Arab League Initiative for Syria amidst Raging Violence

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mladenov (right) with Syrian President Assad in Damascus in 2010. Photo by EPA/SANA/BGNES

Bulgaria's has welcomed the peace initiative of the Arab league for Syria where oppositional protesters have risen up against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

"We welcome the agreement yesterday between the Arab League and Syria to achieve a solution to the crisis in the country. The Arab League initiative must be implemented immediately, and the first step is to stop the violence and repression," Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov said in a statement Thursday.

"We view with concern the escalation of violence in recent days, endangering the lives and security of hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens. I believe that the Syrian people must have their chance to realize their aspirations for a decent life in a modern, free and democratic political system," Mladenov added.

The Arab League plan calls for immediate ceasing of violence in order "to send a positive message to the Syrian street" before the regime could start talks with the opposition formations.

Syria said on Tuesday it had reached agreement with an Arab League committee tasked with finding a way to end seven months of unrest and starting a dialogue between President Bashar al-Assad and his opponents.

State media reported "agreement regarding a final document on the situation in Syria," without giving details, saying an official announcement would be made at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday.

The United Nations says more than 3,000 people have been killed in Assad's crackdown on an uprising which erupted in March against his rule, inspired by revolutions which have toppled three

Syrian security forces killed 10 people in Homs on Thursday, activists said, and there was no sign yet of troops leaving cities under an Arab League agreement to end bloodshed after seven months of protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

The authorities blame the violence on Islamist militants and armed gangs who they say have killed 1,100 soldiers and police.

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