SOFIA, July 16, 2026 (WAFA) – PLO Executive Committee member and President Mahmoud Abbas' envoy Ahmad Majdalani paid an official visit to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, where he held a series of official meetings with senior Bulgarian officials to discuss the latest political developments in Palestine and ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the State of Palestine and the Republic of Bulgaria.
The visit, organized by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Bulgaria, included meetings with Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova at the Presidential Palace and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev at the Council of Ministers headquarters.
During the two meetings, Majdalani delivered separate letters from President Mahmoud Abbas to President Iotova and Prime Minister Radev. He also conveyed greetings from President Abbas, Vice President of the State of Palestine Hussein Al Sheikh, Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, and the Palestinian people on the occasion on the occasion of winning the recent parliamentary elections and forming the new government.
Majdalani reviewed the latest political developments in Palestine, the Israeli violations and crimes committed against the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as Israel's unilateral measures that undermine prospects for establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution.
He also briefed the Bulgarian officials on the reform process being implemented by the Palestinian government across various sectors, stressing the importance of Bulgaria playing an active role within the European Union in supporting and empowering the Palestinian government and helping to create the necessary conditions for holding the legislative elections scheduled for November 28.
The discussions also addressed bilateral relations between the State of Palestine and the Republic of Bulgaria and ways to further develop and strengthen them in areas of mutual interest.
During the two meetings, President Iotova and Prime Minister Radev expressed their pride in the historic relations between the two countries, reiterating their support for the two-state solution as the path toward achieving peace and stability.
They also stressed the need to end the war against the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and halt Israeli violations and measures in the occupied West Bank.
They further expressed their readiness to support the Palestinian government's reform efforts and contribute, within the framework of the European Union, to enabling the Palestinian leadership to hold the scheduled legislative elections.
Prime Minister Radev said that Bulgaria is closely monitoring with concern developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank and will continue to support efforts aimed at ending the military operations in the region.
He stressed that Bulgaria supports the practical implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Gaza Plan, which provide a pathway toward resuming the political process aimed at achieving a sustainable peaceful solution, with the European Union forming part of this process.
He added that sustained efforts by the entire international community are needed to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, guaranteeing security for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.
Radev noted that support among many countries for achieving an effective peaceful solution in the Middle East has increased, particularly following the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of people, including thousands of children.
For his part, Majdalani reaffirmed the Palestinian National Authority's support for the peace process through the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2803, which provides for the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
He also highlighted the Palestinian Authority's preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2026, describing them as crucial to the legitimacy of institutions and the strengthening of Palestinian people's unity. He called for broad participation by international observers in monitoring the elections.
T.R.
