27.09.2018
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with representatives of the American Jewish organizations in New York, where he was on a visit on the occassion of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly as head of the Bulgarian delegation.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the Bulgarian and Jewish peoples are very connected and have built their friendship for years, which is a good prerequisite for international cooperation. "We are acknowledging the Jewish community, which has contributed and supported Bulgaria in the years of transition to democracy, in the process of Bulgaria's accession to NATO and the EU, as well as in the deepening of the bilateral dialogue with the United States," Prime Minister Borissov said. The Prime Minister added that our country would greatly appreciate the support and assistance of American Jewish communities with the Congress and the US administration to achieve full visa reciprocity with the United States.
"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the salvation of the Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. In 1943, it was only Bulgaria that did not send to sure death in the Nazi concentration camps, more than 50,000 of its Jewish citizens," said Prime Minister Borissov and added that this story should be explored and told. The Bulgarian Prime Minister reminded that at the beginning of the month in Tel Aviv, together with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu they unveiled a monument - a symbol of the Bulgarian contribution to the salvation of Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust, and stressed that this is yet another act that confirms the friendship and mutual support on both sides. "Today the second and third generation of Bulgarian Jews are the bridge of friendship and support that make our relations unique and cordial," said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
Prime Minister Borissov informed the chairmen of the Jewish organizations about the steps taken by Bulgaria for acquiring membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance pointed out that this is an important intergovernmental organization for Bulgaria. The aim of the organization is to provide political and public support for the study, research, and preservation of memory of the Holocaust at the national and international levels. The Prime Minister underlined that in October 2017 the Bulgarian government decided to use the working definition of anti-Semitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gueorg Gueorgiev was appointed national coordinator for anti-Semitism. "Bulgaria is the fifth EU member state that has adopted the definition of anti-Semitism and this will facilitate the work of the judiciary and the law enforcement authorities in the identification and prosecution of acts of anti-Semitism," added Prime Minister Borissov.
