The ethic and religious groups in Bulgaria have been peacefully living together for centuries and the most convincing proof of that is the salvation of the Bulgarian Jews during World War II. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said, who received a delegation of the American Jewish Committee, lead by David Harris, Executive Director of the organization.
The Head of State emphasized that we should openly speak about the problems caused by the usage of the language of hatred. “The most dangerous thing is to deny that we have problems – they should be pinpointed in order to be resolved,” the President emphasized. According to findings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for 2013, quoted by President Rosen Plevneliev, 651 cases of crimes related to hatred have been registered in Bulgaria, 300 charges have been raised and 239 convictions have been issued. Only one of these incidents involves a case of anti-Semitism. In the Head of State’s words, the Bulgarian state and civil society have always reacted sharply against each manifestation of intolerance.
At the meeting the Head of State highlighted the excellent partnership between the presidential institution and the Bulgarian state, on the one hand, and the Jewish organizations, on the other. David Harris, Executive Director of the organization, for his part, voiced the Jewish community’s high appraisal of the messages of mutual respect conveyed by the Bulgarian institutions. “The example set involving the salvation of the Bulgarian Jews in 1943 will never be forgotten,” David Harris said. He voiced the concern of the Jewish community over the increasing number of manifestations of anti-Semitism in Europe. “To us it is extremely important to have friends like you, who clearly voice their positions,” David Harris further emphasized.
The high appraisal of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States and Bulgaria and Israel was also expressed at the meeting. Our country is an important partner with respect to the changed security environment, which is the result of the crisis in Ukraine and the actions of Islamic State in the Middle East, it was further emphasized at the meeting.