Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski: European Union

European Union: The Balkan country, the poorest in the European Union, has been struggling to accommodate asylum seekers, whose numbers have jumped seven-fold to 10,000 from a year ago, prompting several anti-immigrant protests organized by far-right groups and an increasing number of racist attacks, according to Reuters. "In recent days we have witnessed alarming incidents, criminal attacks linked with attempts to incite hatred and calls for refugees to be expelled," the joint statement said and SOFIA - Bulgaria's president and prime minister on Tuesday condemned a rise in attacks on immigrants following an influx of refugees, mainly from Syria, in a rare joint statement. President Rosen Plevneliev, who has often criticized the Socialist-led cabinet and has supported anti-government protesters, joined Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski in appealing to Bulgarians to show tolerance and compassion to refugees. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.