SOFIA, September 21, 2011 (WAFA) – Bulgaria witnessed a mass demonstration Wednesday in support of the Palestinian bid to the United Nations to seek full membership and recognition of a Palestinian state.

The demonstration came in response to an invitation by the Palestinian-Bulgarian Friendship Association (BPFA). It included a large number of Bulgarians and members of the Palestinian, Arab and Kurdish communities.

The protesters raised Palestinian flags and banners calling for freedom for Palestine, for ending the occupation and for Palestine becoming State 194 at the UN.

In a speech, Kiryak Tsonev, head of BPFA, affirmed that this demonstration is part of the public, European and international campaign to support the Palestinian request to gain a full UN membership of a Palestinian state.

He expressed, on behalf of the Bulgarians, support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights based on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as their capital.

A delegation representing the BPFA had previously handed a political statement to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolay Mladenov, urging the Bulgarian government to support the Palestinian bid to the UN.

T.R./F.J.