site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva Receives Israeli Delegation for 75th Anniversary of Saving of Bulgarian Jews

Sofia, March 9 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Thursday received a delegation from the State of Israel on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the saving of the Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust, Zaharieva's Ministry said in a press release.

"The Bulgarian authorities are taking the necessary measures for the prevention of all forms of intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination. You can rely on us," Zaharieva said, welcoming the delegation. The chief Bulgarian diplomat pointed out that her country is actively fighting hate speech.

"Bulgaria was the fifth country to adopt a working definition and to designate a National Coordinator for Anti-Semitism," the Foreign Minister said. She regrets that, similar to other countries, in Bulgaria, too, isolated and fringe elements of society engage in sporadic displays of anti-Semitism.

The Israeli delegation includes Knesset Israel-Bulgaria Friendship Group Chairman Eitan Broshi, members of the Bulgarian Jewish community in Israel and chairpersons of Bulgarian associations in that country.

"The Chairman of the Israel-Bulgaria Friendship Group at the Knesset and the rest of the delegation members expressed infinite gratitude to our country," the press release said. "They stressed that one of their main priorities is to pass the love for Bulgaria to the young generation and to keep alive the memory of the heroic deed for ever."

Zaharieva recalled that in 2018 the two peoples mark two important anniversaries: 75 years since the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews and 79 years since the establishment of the State of Israel. The Foreign Minister stressed that her country is proud of the fact that the Bulgarian people succeeded in saving the Bulgarian Jews on its territory from deportation during World War II. Unfortunately, nearly 11,000 Jews from Thrace and Macedonia did not share the destiny of their brethren from Bulgaria.