Human rights activists said at least 15 people were killed on Wednesday in the volatile Syrian city of Daraa, hub of a week of anti-regime protests. EPA/BGNES
Bulgaria's government is following "with concern" the situation in Syria, says a statement of Bulgarian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vesela Cherneva.
The Bulgarian statement comes amidst reports of numerous deaths resulting from clashes between protesters and government forces in the Syrian city of Daraa.
"The escalation of tension combined with the use of force against demonstrators threatens that the situation in the country may get out of control turning into an open conflict between the authorities and the civilian population. Such a process would have horrendous consequences for the future of Syria, a key country in the Middle East," declares the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.
"We express out deep sympathies to the families of the Syrian citizens killed in Deraa. We are convinced that timely and efficient reforms carried out by the Syrian government will provide for minimizing the situation in the country. The initiating of economic and social reforms cannot be the result of outside pressure. It can only result from a national consensus which cannot be achieved with violence but only with a nationally responsible dialogue including all representatives of the Syrian society," Bulgaria's government says.