site.btaBulgarian Muslim Leader Meets with European Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources

Bulgarian Muslim Leader Meets with European Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources

Brussels, December 2 (BTA) - The Chief Mufti of Muslims in Bulgaria, Moustafa Hadji, told European Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva that the peaceful coexistence of Christians, Muslims and Jews in Bulgaria can serve as a model for the world, the Chief Mufti's Office reported on Wednesday. Hadji warned that in the context of the current events in the world, Bulgaria could potentially face the risk of tensions being stirred up deliberately. He added, though, that the Bulgarian people are wise and will not succumb to extremist provocation.

Hadji pointed to the need for transparent funding for the activities of the Muslim community in Bulgaria. One possible funding source is EU aid provided through the Bulgarian Rural Development Programme, he said. Georgieva promised to provide relevant information.

The meeting took place in Brussels on November 29 during Hadji's three-day official visit to the Belgian capital, where he attended an international conference entitled "A New Inclusive and Optimistic Europe: Celebrating and Learning from Good Inter-Cultural Practice." The event was organized by the European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion and attended by representatives of monotheistic religions.