Bulgaria has condemned the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and expressed its compassion for the relatives of victims and the whole nation.

Minutes after the first reports of the aircraft attacks on Washington and New York, President Petar Stoyanov called an urgent meeting of the chiefs of special services, the military and civilian aviation and the general staff of the Bulgarian Army. They were later joined by Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov and issued a declaration. "(We) condemn unconditionally this monstrous terrorist act... Terrorism cannot be a solution to any of the existing world problems," stated the document.

Stoyanov referred to the attacks as "disgusting and cynical acts that threatened the foundations of human civilization to which nobody can remain indifferent." The president added that there were no signs that the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizens was threatened.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister described the events as "an attack against civilization." Saxe-Coburg postponed his Wednesday visit to Brussels because of the critical situation after the terrorist acts. The premier and his Belgian hosts agreed to meet at a more appropriate time.

In a declaration on Wednesday the Bulgarian Parliament urged the UN to declare September 11 World Day of the Victims of Terrorism. The declaration stated that the National Assembly condemned sharply and categorically the terrorist acts and viewed them as an open challenge to modern civilization.

All the political forces in Bulgaria issued declarations condemning the terrorist acts. MPs of the ruling National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) expressed their condolences for the families and friends of the victims and voiced readiness to help combat any form of terrorism. They initiated a blood donation campaign on Wednesday and parliamentary speaker Ognian Gerdjikov was among the first donors.

The leadership of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces together with former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov had a meeting with Richard Miles, the U.S. ambassador, on Wednesday. They expressed sympathy and insisted that Bulgarian government would take part in any initiatives to track down those responsible.

Members of the Bulgarian Socialist Party expressed the opinion that no country was unaffected by what was happening in the U.S. and voiced fears that the attacks in Washington and New York might prove to be an element of a new spiral of violence where the victims will be innocent people.

The leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Ahmed Dogan said that what happened in the U.S. was "shocking and borders on terror."