THE Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran summoned Zdravelin Georgiev, Bulgarian ambassador to Iran, on February 7, an Iranian information agency reported the same day. Georgiev had to explain how and why the Bulgarian press had printed  cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.

At a meeting with a senior Iranian foreign ministry official for Central and North European Affairs, Georgiev expressed his regret over the publication of the offensive caricatures. Twelve cartoons depicting the Phrophet Mohammed published in various European media caused disturbance to many Muslims around the world. The parody of the Muslim holy man led to conflicts .

Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev called upon Bulgarian media on February 8 to show obligatory respect and take into consideration the feelings of the Muslim community.

Georgiev said the publication of the cartoons had serious consequences and hoped officials in other countries would take measures to prevent the repetition of such acts.

The same day, Stanishev told a news conference that he did not have information on concrete threats to Bulgaria in relation to the high tension linked to the Mohammed cartoons. However, he said that all contemporary countries were subject to the threat of terrorism and different forms of radicalism and fundamentalism, regardless of their religious orientations. Modern situations require good co-ordination, both in every individual country and among the international community, in order to make an adequate response to these threats.

The Holy Synod, the governing body of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, also made a statement in relation to the published cartoons: "The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, faithful to Holy Orthodoxy in its centuries-long tradition, has always considered to be given by God the freedom of choice and belief of every person. That is, the Synod does not excuse any violation of religious feelings and human rights of whomever. The freedom of choice and feelings of every person is a basis for preserving public peace in the world."

On February 6, the Government press office released a statement in connection with the cartoons. In it, Stanishev called upon the media to respect Islam.

"Bulgaria is a country in which the various religious communities have coexisted for centuries side by side in the spirit of mutual tolerance and respect. I am convinced that hurting citizens' religious convictions and understandings in any way is inadmissible," he said.

Stanishev regretted that the freedom of speech and press - one of the pillars of every democratic society - would be used in a way that could be viewed as an insult by believers, regardless of their religion.

"I appeal to the Bulgarian media to show the necessary respect in the material they publish and to take into consideration the feelings of the representatives of the Muslim community. I have understanding for the indignation and rage of the Muslims in various countries of the world, but I also think that manifestations of violence and intolerance are inadmissible," Stanishev said.

Stanishev's statement came as a result of the declaration that was issued on February 3 by the ambassadors of Arab countries to Bulgaria and the ambassadors to Bulgaria of Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey. The ambassadors called on the Bulgarian media to stay out of the campaign involving cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The declaration confirms support for freedom of speech and, at the same time, strongly condemns the insults against the Islamic religion and the Prophet Mohammad, Iraqi Ambassador Hayder S. al-Barrak told media after the meeting.