Bulgaria highly appreciates the contribution of Professor Michael Bar-Zohar to the defence and promotion of the historical truth about the feat of the Bulgarian people and State to rescue their Jewish compatriots 80 years ago. This act of tolerance and humanitarianism was unique in Europe during the Second World War and must be promoted to the world, President Rumen Radev said at a meeting today with Israeli writer, historian, public figure and politician Prof. Bar-Zohar. He is the author of the book Beyond Hitler's grasp and, a number of biographical and historical studies.
The Head of State pointed out that generations of Bulgarians are deeply grateful for the historian's endeavour to preserve memory and to make the voice of truth heard on how this country did not allow the deportation of its Jewish community to the death camps. The Bulgarian Jewish community increased in numbers during World War II, and its rescue came because of the joint efforts of the society and the institutions. You are still tirelessly promoting this deed, despite the undignified attempts to distort the past and to replace the bright page of our history, aiming to impute undeserved guilt to Bulgaria, Rumen Radev said, adding that our institutions should oppose such an approach.
Prof. Bar-Zohar briefed the President on his participation in various initiatives to promote the rescue of the Bulgarian Jewish community in the context of the 80th anniversary of the feat, which we are celebrating this year. There are documents, eyewitness accounts and information that should be made available not only to the younger generations, but also to politicians, cultural and public figures around the world, he said. Prof. Bar-Zohar added that the Bulgarian State and the scientific community should work more actively to assert the historical truth.