NEWS

Europe is not only an area of compassion towards asylum-seekers, but also of shared rules. This is what Head of State Rosen Plevneliev said before the participants in the international forum organized by the Nizami Ganjavi Center and the Italian Global Dialogue Association. In the statement he made as keynote speaker, the President focused on the ways to cope with the challenges related to extremism and radicalism and the necessity to hold on to our values.

 

“As Head of State of a people that has a 13-century-old history and long experience in peaceful coexistence,  I know that no matter how unique the current crisis might seem, it can be overcome if concrete and decisive actions are taken,” Rosen Plevneliev said. In the President’s words, Europe has faced serious challenges like the current ones more than once and the solutions are clear: “We need more, not less democracy, humanness and sympathy; observing rules; integration and education.” We should remember who we are, we should remember that the founders of united Europe bequeathed us a mission for peace, connectivity and tolerance. 

 

The President said before the participants in the forum that the Bulgarian society has been living in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect for the different for years. Rosen Plevneliev gave an example with his native city, where temples of different religions have coexisted for centuries. On the international day of  commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust – 27 January, the Head of State recalled the history of saving the Bulgarian Jews during World War II.

 

“As early as the first day I took office as Head of State, I have had the ambition to follow these best examples of the famous Bulgarian tolerance and respect for the different religious communities,” the President said. “This is namely why I attend not only the traditional for the Orthodox Bulgarians Easter and Christmas divine services, but I also light one of the Hanukkah candles in the Sofia Synagogue every year, I regularly host the traditional for the Muslims Iftar dinners and celebrate the holidays and traditions of all Bulgarian citizens, irrespective of their religious denomination.  I believe that this shows not only respect, but also reconfirms our will and choice to live together in peace and harmony,” the president said. Rosen Plevneliev emphasized that each of the religious communities in Bulgaria has contributed to the peaceful coexistence with the rest and is part of this national effort. 

 

The Head of State said that we should remember that every religion preaches and prays for peace. Terrorism is not the war of religions, it is not the clash of civilizations, but a clash between human civilization and barbarism. The President called on for taking timely actions, directed at preventing the marginalization and radicalization of the asylum-seekers in Europe. “Terrorists are not born. Despair and hatred, which are fueled by the refused access to education, social exclusion, the lack of prospects and chance for finding one’s place in life, create terrorists.  It is our duty to show them that they also have another choice,” President Plevneliev said. In the Head of State’s words, fighting terrorism is “a fight for integration and education.”

 

Rosen Plevneliev called on the European Union to hold onto its own identity. We should all pool efforts to solve the crises that are record high today. “Our tolerance is a clear sign of our strength and determination to defend our way of life,” Rosen Plevneliev said. As an EU and NATO member-state, and as chair of the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe and SEECP, Bulgaria has the opportunity to put on the agenda important topics for Europe – about the common European approach to history and the future, as well as about solving any crisis because only together we are strong, the President added. 

 

The Head of State pointed out that in 2015 Bulgaria showed a responsible attitude to the arrival of a record number of asylum-seekers by registering every migrant that crosses our border, in accordance with the EU rules. “However, I mostly take pride in the fact that we showed solidarity with the asylum-seekers, escaping from the horrors of war, and we are seeking a lasting solution to the crisis together with our European partners,” the President said.

 

Rosen Plevneliev highlighted that not only in Bulgaria, but also in the other Balkan countries we remember horrible conflicts caused by inter-ethnic and religious confrontation, which brought the region decades back in time. “It is namely us, the Balkan nations, which should recall that, apart from taking the road of confrontation, taking the road of understanding, of mutual respect and peaceful and constructive cooperation is also possible,” President Plevneliev added.

 

The discussion in Rome was also attended by the president of Italy (2006-2015) Giorgio Napolitano; the President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso, Macedonian president George Ivanov; Latvian president (1999-2007) and co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi Center Vaira Vike-Freiberga; Franco Frattini – Italian foreign minister (2002-2008; 2008-2011) and vice president of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security (2004-2008) and others. The forum was also attended by the director of the Alexandrian library Ismail Serageldin.  

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