Bulgaria’s principled position on the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unchanged, said Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva during question time in parliament.

“The only way to find a just and lasting settlement to the conflict is by direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians leading to the creation of an independent democratic Palestinian state that will exist in the conditions of peace, security and mutual recognition with the State of Israel,” Minister Zaharieva said. “There is no doubt that the EU should continue to contribute constructively to overcoming the obstacles along the way to attaining a peaceful settlement of the conflict despite the nuances in the positions of the member countries.”