Bulgaria Denies Backtracking over Hizbullah Involvement in Burgas Attacks
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Bulgaria denied Thursday backtracking over whether Hizbullah was behind a bomb attack last July on its soil that killed five Israelis, saying earlier comments were misinterpreted.
"Bulgaria has not revised its stance on the terrorist act," Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin was cited in a statement as telling Ireland's ambassador to Sofia John Rowan in talks.
On Wednesday, in an interview with state BNR radio, Vigenin had said that evidence that Hizbullah was behind the attack at Burgas airport on the Black Sea was "circumstantial" and "not categorical" at this stage.
He urged the European Union to seek additional proof from other cases before labeling Hizbullah's military wing a "terrorist" entity, sparking press speculation of a change in position by Sofia.
A statement from the previous government in February had said that there was a "justified conclusion" that two helpers of the bomber belonged to the party.
That led to renewed calls for the EU to join the United States in adding Hizbullah's military wing to its list of "terrorist" groups.
"Bulgaria is ready to join a consensus decision of the EU and it is our responsibility to present an even more solid basis for this," Vigenin was cited as saying Thursday.
In order to do this, Bulgaria urged swifter responses to requests for assistance it has sent to several countries, he added.
Israel, Lebanon, Australia and Morocco were mentioned by chief prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov in February as the countries Sofia had asked for help.
Five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian driver were killed in the July 18 bombing on their tourist bus. The identity of the lone bomber, who also perished, has so far remained a mystery.
The attack was the deadliest on Israelis abroad since 2004 and Israel immediately blamed it on Iran and its "terrorist" proxy Hizbullah, but Bulgarian investigators have however been more cautious. Iran denied involvement.
The EU opened the door to blacklisting Hizbullah following a formal British request last month, but the decision is still being discussed and will require unanimous approval.
06 June 2013, 19:41
92
What evidence is there of their claim, besides the bombers come from Lebanon and Hezbollah is proving to be an inconvenient to the West's agenda ?
The logical chain of progression of thought is disturbingly assumptive.
Simply because this person was from Lebanon does not mean in the slightest that he was affiliated with any party, let alone a Lebanese party.
Especially given the fact that we know Salafi elements are present in the country, elements being renowned for suicide bombings across the world as evidenced by their mentors, Qaeda and their relatives across the Middle East, elements who have been indisputably shown to have crossed to Syria to enroll themselves in the ensuing war.
I digress. Can anyone tell me what EVIDENCE there is against the party in question? Everybody tries to seek truth don't they ? What have you as substantiation of such a thing ?
I'm getting the feeling Hizbollah's trying to be intentionally bullied.
06 June 2013, 22:35
42
Well said. Sadly, they are too damaged by the West to help their own brothers. It's sad. It would be amazing if they could unite, as one front, against the same enemy. Enemy of Lebanon, of the Middle East, of Muslims, and believe it or not, of Christians as well.
07 June 2013, 01:01
23
This Bulgaria case is not an isolated one. Especially since the removal of the wanted terrorist Imad Mugnieh, after which Hizbollah cried for revenge there have been a lot of cases where lebanese shiahs and/or iranian citizens have been caught red-handed....even to the point where devices have exploded in their precense. Georia, Turkey, Nigeria, Egypt, Thailand, Bulgaria etc....Could it be just a coinsidence, or could it really be just a US/Israeli-plot to frame the "resistance"? A plot that includes the killing of Israeli citizens...?
I know I am talking to deaf ears to those like Josh here who uses the George Bush doctrine "either you are with us or against us (or "with Israel" as they like to say". The truth is that it is possible to be against both Israel and Hizbollah. Almost all of my christian and sunni friends are. They consentrate on building a peaceful country with opportunities for all. But I fear that Hizbollah will never let them.
