Bulgaria urges citizens not to travel to Middle East and North Africa
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement on August 29 2013, called on citizens not to travel to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, especially Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Libya.
The warning was issued “because of the continuing escalation of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, which is creating highly increased risks to security and personal safety,” the Foreign Ministry said.
In case of emergency, Bulgarian citizens temporarily or permanently resident in the country concerned can seek assistance from the nearest diplomatic mission of the Republic of Bulgaria or member state of the EU.
“We strongly recommend that citizens register with the Bulgarian diplomatic missions by phone or email. Pre-registration is essential for a timely response.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds you that, in the event of a sharp aggravation of the situation, the possibilities for the diplomatic missions to take action will be limited,” the ministry said.
Romanians currently in Syria were advised by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, through an advisory posted on the ministry’s website, to leave the country “as soon as possible by the still operational means of transport”.
“Given that the situation across Syria has significantly deteriorated lately, the MAE (foreign ministry) is recommending that the Romanian citizens who are still in this country should leave it as soon as possible by the still operational means of transport,” Romania’s foreign ministry said, quoted by the Independent Balkan News Agency.
Greece’s foreign ministry released contact information for Greek citizens in Syria, to call in the event of emergency, Ekathimerini reported.
The foreign minister of Cyprus held meetings with cabinet colleagues on August 28 to discuss possible arrangements regarding the evacuation of foreign nationals from Syria, the Cyprus Mail reported.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
