Bulgarian leader arrives in Ramallah for official visit

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian government’s administrative capital, for an official visit on Thursday.

Upon his arrival, Radev placed a wreath on the tomb of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

An official reception was held at Ramallah’s presidential headquarters attended by President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah other senior Palestinian officials.

The two presidents are expected to meet for discussions before holding a joint press conference later Thursday.

In an earlier statement, Majdi Khalidi, Abbas’s advisor for diplomatic affairs, said Radev’s visit “coincides with Palestinian efforts to find international sponsorship for the peace process, as his country [Bulgaria] currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency”.

Since the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December, the Palestinian leadership has rejected U.S. sponsorship of the Middle East peace process.