NEWS

Manifestations of xenophobia and anti-Semitism in Europe cannot be tolerated and need to be condemned by the institutions and the civil society. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev declared before journalists, after he met in New York with representatives of Jewish organizations in the USA. The President underscored that it is inadmissible to use “hate language” and extreme nationalistic rhetoric by political parties in EU Member States. 

 

The friendship between the Bulgarian and Jewish peoples has been built by strong individuals such as Dimitar Peshev, Bulgarian Members of Parliament and the Metropolitan Bishops Stephen and Cyril, who in 1943 managed to save the Jewish community in Bulgaria, said also the Head of State. Rosen Plevneliev pointed out that our country will continue to encourage Jewish companies to invest in the development of the high technology sector in Bulgaria, in food production and in tourism. 

 

The undergoing investigation of the Burgas attack in 2012 in which five Israeli and one Bulgarian citizen died was also discussed at the meeting. “We became witnesses to the fact that terrorism has no borders and can affect every country”, commented Rosen Plevneliev. The President pointed out that Bulgaria will work towards closer integration with democratic countries and sharing of information to prevent such acts of violence in the future.

 

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith International, the American Jewish Committee, and the World Jewish Congress, among others.

 

 

In her greeting, the head of state highlighted the professional experience and fruitful work of Ambassador Meyer in Bulgaria, and in her words, his efforts have encouraged cultural and educational ties between the two peoples

The focus of the talks was also the administrative-territorial reform in the country

The President, as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, is in constant contact with the relevant Bulgarian institutions and security bodies

The growing hate speech and the retreat from human rights protection were among the main topics of conversation between Bulgarian Head of State Iliana Iotova and American Jewish Committee CEO Theodore Deutch. The two met on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference.