PM Modi: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined India’s commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and tackling piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean.
His statements were in response to a message from Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who expressed gratitude for the safe repatriation of seven Bulgarian people.
On Monday, the Bulgarian President thanked the Indian Navy for successfully rescuing the hijacked Bulgarian ship, MV Ruen.
PM Modi thanked Bulgarian President Radev and expressed India’s happiness that the seven Bulgarian nationals were safe and would soon return home.
Appreciate your message, President @PresidentOfBg. We are relieved that 7 Bulgarian nationals are safe and will be returning home shortly. India is dedicated to defending freedom of navigation and tackling piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in a post on X (twitter).
In December of last year, pirates took the Rouen ship in the Arabian Sea, which was carrying eight Bulgarians, nine Myanmarese, and one Angolan national.
In an official post on X, the Bulgarian President stated My sincere gratitude to PM @narendramodi for the brave action of the Navy in rescuing the hijacked Bulgarian ship Ruen and its crew, including 7 Bulgarian citizens.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s foreign minister, Mariya Gabriel, said in a Facebook post on Saturday that she spoke with Indian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Sanjay Rana, regarding the Indian Navy’s action aboard MV Ruen and congratulated him on protecting Bulgarian citizens.
Bulgaria’s foreign minister Mariya Gabriel revealed in a recent Facebook post that the crew of the ship “Rouen,” hijacked on December 14, 2023, and included seven Bulgarian people, was released today, March 16, with the assistance of the Indian Navy.
The Indian military’s efforts resulted in the release of the whole ship’s crew. All sailors are in good health, and preparations are being made for their timely return to Bulgaria, she said.
In relation to the event, she disclosed that the ship Rouen with eight Bulgarians, nine Myanmar, and one Angolan on board was captured by pirates in the Arabian Sea in December of last year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively involved in the attempts to liberate the Bulgarian crew, working closely with all competent organizations, the Republic of Bulgaria’s abroad delegations in the region, and international partners.
On March 16, a conversation was had at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Indian envoy in Sofia, envoy Sanjay Rana, and a further plea was made to the Indian side for assistance and to take all necessary precautions to preserve the crew’s life and health.
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In her statement, she said: I am extremely grateful for the assistance of the Indian side in the process of releasing the Bulgarian sailors.