Bulgaria and Israel have an excellent political dialogue, which is a factor for more pragmatism in the bilateral partnership in key spheres such as IT, investments and security. This was the common position shared by President Rumen Radev and Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, Speaker of the Knesset, which held a meeting in Jerusalem. The parliaments are the institutions that set the framework of public relations and it is essential for Bulgaria that the inter-parliamentary ties with Israel are strengthened and that Bulgaria uses Israel’s experience in building an active civil and socially integrated society, the Head of State said.
The two leaders shared the position that the parliaments in the two countries have a good cooperation and the parliamentary groups for friendship are an active factor for the development of the bilateral relations. The active partnership in the adoption and enforcement of anti-terrorist legislation and between the two countries' security services in fighting terrorism was highlighted.
Later on President Radev took part in the Global Forum for combating antisemitism and after he delivered his speech, he answered the questions raised by Bulgarian journalists. Taking a question about the tolerance of the Bulgarian political class today and about political statements which have been seriously opposed by the Jewish community in Bulgaria, the Head of State said that not only in Europe, but also across the world the language of hate and xenophobia have been on the rise. Hence the people should pool efforts to counteract them. The language of hate is not our road. Our road is quite different and I think that currently Bulgaria may set an example, Rumen Radev was adamant. The President emphasized that a real criterion are the actions of the institutions, not the talk of some politicians.
Taking a question regarding our country’s expectations of the forthcoming visit of the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Bulgaria on 26 March, Rumen Radev said that our relations with Turkey are extremely important and we should continue to build the bilateral relations on the basis of friendship, understanding and mutual assistance. However, we should adhere to clear principles: mutual respect and non-interference. “Turkey is an extremely important ally and NATO partner and it is to Turkey that we owe to a great extent the security vis-à-vis the migration crisis. However, there should also be clear conditions in bilateral relations,” Rumen Radev further emphasized and added that the Republic of Turkey should henceforth assume the commitment to non-interference in domestic affairs and elections, since these are principles which should be obeyed.