Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear members of the Jewish community,
Dear representatives of the State of Israel,
Dear Friends,
In these sad days following the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, we pay our deepest respects to the memory of all the innocent victims. The scenes of brutal cruelty and violence, of the violation of human dignity, have unleashed a wave of anger and outrage throughout the world. I would like to express my deepest condolences to all Bulgarian Jews, to all people in the State of Israel and around the world who have lost loved ones and friends in this unprecedented act of cruelty. I wish to express my sincere hope that the citizens taken hostage will return as soon as possible alive and well. We know that this is extremely difficult, but I think that is what we are all here for today.
Bulgaria vehemently denounces the unprecedented attack on the State of Israel and the deliberate slaughter of civilians. We have always condemned and will continue to condemn terror in all its forms in the strongest and firmest terms. Terrorist acts and violence can never be justified in any way or for any political cause. On the contrary, terrorism should be systematically and uncompromisingly opposed.
Our full solidarity and empathy with Israel is in the context of the strong historical ties between the Bulgarian and Jewish peoples. Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people have already shown that we are intolerant of the violation of the greatest value in this world - human life. Eighty years ago, we prevented nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews from ending up in the death camps. This unprecedented act of salvation clearly demonstrates the strength, courage, will and humanity of our people, shown in the darkest days of human history. Likewise, today we stand in solidarity with the victims of terror directed against Jewish civilians, and we stand in solidarity with the need to protect them.
Today our souls are devastated by this inhuman cruelty and aggression. Alongside this is the growing conviction that the violence unleashed by Hamas cannot open the door to a sustainable and fair peace that leads to respect for the just aspirations of both peoples, for the desire of the people of Israel and Palestine to live in peace and, of course, for the aspirations of the entire international community, including Bulgaria. There is no other way to the future than peace. And that requires the united efforts of all of us - people who believe that life is the ultimate human value. That is why I believe that our common prayer, of all of us who believe in this value, will be heard.
Thank you for your attention!