site.btaPresident Plevneliev Hosts Iftar Dinner Breaking Ramazan Fast

President Plevneliev Hosts Iftar Dinner Breaking Ramazan Fast

Sofia, June 7 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev hosted a solemn iftar dinner celebrating the Muslim feast of Ramazan Bayram at the National History Museum on Monday evening, his Press Secretariat reported. He said: "The nation's unity is based on the unity of all communities around our common cause - the motherland's peace and prosperity."

Hosting the iftar dinner for the third straight year, the President shows respect for the religious holiday and traditions of Bulgarian Muslims.

Patriarch Neophyte, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova, representatives of all traditional religions in Bulgaria, leaders of the parliamentary parties, foreign diplomats, scholars and artists attended the function.

"Religions in Bulgaria are not isolated from one another, they do not live in parallel worlds but actively cooperate and help one another, just as ordinary people around the country do. Bulgaria's religious tolerance is a daily plebiscite in favour of living together," said Plevneliev.

For his part, Chief Mufti Mustafa Hadji said: "Unity is not new to people in Bulgaria. We should stick to the path of mutual respect and tolerance." He stressed that despite the challenges, the Chief Mufti's Office will stem attempts at putting religious people in Bulgaria against one another. "Tonight we are witnessing a great example of the unification of all Bulgarian citizens, which is the right path to strengthening love of one's motherland," he said.