"Bulgaria considers the State of Israel a key strategic partner, and our excellent relations could give a strong boost in the sectors of trade, innovation, education, agriculture and tourism". This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during his meeting with leading Jewish organizations, which was held in New York, quoted by the Council of Ministers.
Historical memory is the one that primarily connects Bulgaria and the Jewish people. This year marked 82 years since the rescue of Bulgarian Jews. The memorable event from the recent past, which united Bulgarians from all social strata, has not been forgotten to this day, and every year the Bulgarian people remember the time when they raised their voice to defend the right of their compatriots of Jewish origin to live, the Ministry of Justice notes.
"Bulgaria has consistently called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The hostage crisis also directly affects our country. Among the persons still detained by "Hamas" is a Bulgarian citizen," the Prime Minister pointed out. He stressed that it is imperative to guarantee the protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers, at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure, such as medical facilities, schools and UN premises.
The Prime Minister also commented that the fight against anti-Semitism is one of the leading priorities of Bulgaria's foreign policy in the field of human rights. The country is currently implementing its first National Action Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism, adopted by the Council of Ministers.
"Our meeting is an expression of the long-standing friendship and mutual respect between Bulgaria and the Jewish community. We believe that dialogue, memory and cooperation are the foundation of our strong ties and our efforts for a better and fairer future for all. We appreciate Bulgaria's consistent position in the fight against anti-Semitism and in support of intercultural understanding. It is important for us to continue our joint work in areas such as education, the preservation of historical memory and the promotion of tolerance in society," said Mark Levin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the National Coalition for Eurasian Jewry – NCSEJ.
"Only through cooperation can we ensure that the past will not be forgotten, and the lessons from it – ignored", commented the chairman of the World Jewish Organization for Restitution Gideon Taylor.