The Head of State Iliyana Yotova participated in Sofia in marking the anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews. In her speech in front of the Monument of Salvation, the President pointed out that today we bow before one of the brightest pages in Bulgarian history, reported novini.bg.
„83 years ago, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Tsar Boris III, politicians and citizens showed solidarity, empathy, love for their neighbor and did not allow nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews to leave for the death camps. We showed that a small David can defeat a huge Goliath, as the famous professor Michael Bar-Zohar says,“, emphasized President Yotova.
Earlier, the head of state also participated in a ceremony of laying flowers in front of the memorial plaques of the saviors of Bulgarian Jews next to the Basilica of “Saint Sophia“.
She stated that Bulgaria's feat of 1943 has not been forgotten, but more should be known about it. “Bulgarian children should know this story, tell it to their peers from all over the world, because the days of salvation are light, enlightenment for peace even in the most impenetrable darkness. This feat sends a strong message today in a world burned by wars and terrorism“, emphasized President Yotova.
The head of state also expressed his respect for the 11,343 Jews from territories governed by the then Bulgarian government, whom Bulgaria could not protect.
“The world today is once again torn apart by hatred, division and contradictions. It is as if we have not learned the lessons of the past, we do not remember the story of the Holocaust, which did not begin with Auschwitz, but with deafening silence and averted gaze. Therefore, today our great responsibility is to face hatred, wherever it is“, pointed out Iliana Yotova. She pointed out that politicians who claim to be able to lead their countries and the world forward do not nip hatred in the bud.
„It is even more shameful when aggressive people, supposedly intellectuals or politicians, try to rewrite history and deny the existence of the Holocaust - the most sinister ideology since humanity can remember. If we do this, it means that we are desecrating the memory of over 6 million people and once again cutting their destinies“, said the head of state.
Today we want the air to resound with children's laughter, not with the cries of mothers who have lost their children. We want more reason and dialogue. Our prayer, no matter what language and in what temple it is, is for tomorrow, which is also our responsibility to our children, the president emphasized.