NEWS

 

Vice President Iliana Iotova inaugurated the exhibition "80 years since the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews" with documents from the collection of the National Library "SS Kiril and Methodius", which is under the patronage of President Rumen Radev. The opening was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps in Romania, as well as the Jewish community in the country.

 

The exhibition presents the exploits of ordinary Bulgarians, the Bulgarian state, Bulgarian politicians and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for the rescue of Bulgarian Jews. They all stood in front of the trains and did not allow their friends, neighbours, acquaintances to leave for the death camps. We Bulgarians are the proud heirs of these brave people who chose the side of justice and humanity at the risk of their own lives and the lives of their families, Iotova said in her speech. She stressed that today 20 righteous Bulgarians are recipients of the highest recognition for humanity of the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem.

 

There is no argument that can justify one of the most evil crimes in the history of mankind - the murder of over 6 million people just because of their ethnicity. Humanity will always carry the shadow of this disgrace. To ensure that the years of the Second World War and the Holocaust are never repeated, this history must be known and today's exhibition is part of that knowledge, the Vice President said. She described attempts to deny the Holocaust as dangerous. Such voices are emerging in radical movements in Europe. Acts of Anti-Semitism still today put their shameful imprint on our societies and lives, Iotova said. The Vice President called for vigilance against all forms of hatred, denial and violence. We must categorically declare: never again hatred, violence, wars, she stressed.

 

Statement by Head of State Iliana Iotova

For projects aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye must be viewed as a whole, to be successful, and within the context of closer cooperation in Southeastern Europe. This will bolster both economic development and security in the region, whose strategic importance is growing. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria.

Albulena Haxhiu expressed her gratitude to President Iotova for Bulgaria’s support on Kosovo’s path toward membership in NATO and the European Union.

Iliana Iotova raised the issue of depopulation in the area along the Bulgarian-Serbian border and highlighted the need for investment to counter the adverse demographic trend.