The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews is not only a historical event, but an inspiring example for people to follow today and tomorrow, Rumen Radev said
Head of State Rumen Radev Awarded the President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder the Stara Planina Order First Degree. At a solemn ceremony in the coat-of-arms hall at 2 Dondukov street the famous philanthropist received the high state award for his great contribution to developing and strengthening the cultural ties and cooperation between the world Jewish community and the state institutions, between the Jewish community and the civil society in the Republic of Bulgaria and also for his great contribution to the development of education in our country.
“The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews is not only a historical event, but an inspiring example for people to follow today and tomorrow, because a nation has shown that even in the darkest moments it can have courage and responsibility when it has cherished fundamental values for over a thousand years,” President Rumen Radev said in his address.
The Head of State pointed out that today we also mark the 76th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews and added that in one of the darkest periods of mankind the Bulgarian people performed an act of outstanding courage, civil responsibility and humanity.
In his speech President Radev said that the joint initiatives of the World Jewish Congress and the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria Shalom facilitate not only increasing intolerance and counteracting xenophobia and discrimination, but also the better cooperation with Bulgarian institutions in their fight against anti-Semitism and hate speech.
The president of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder, for his part, thanked for the honor to be awarded the highest state order and said that he had received many awards, but this is particularly valuable because it comes from the country where he first arrived in 1997 and what he loved most here are the people.
“It was their parents and grandparents that won my respect because in the darkest times of European history Bulgaria was the only country on this continent that had the courage to say “no” to hate, “no” to murders, “no” to anti-Semitism.” If the whole of Europe had manifested such courage, it would have had a positive effect to this day, the president of the World Jewish Congress said.
The solemn event at 2 Dondukov street was attended by a lot of diplomats accredited in Bulgaria and public figures.
After the ceremony President Rumen Radev held a working meeting with Ronald Lauder at 2 Dondukov street, which was attended by the ambassador of the State of Israel to Bulgaria Irit Lillian and US ambassador to Bulgaria Eric Rubin. The prospects for deepening the cooperation in the spheres of education and science, promoting mutual investments and others were discussed at the talks.