site.btaBulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets American Jewish Committee Leadership In Boston

115 FOREIGH AFFAIRS - BULGARIA - USA

Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister
Meets American Jewish Committee Leadership
In Boston


Sofia, March 12 (BTA) - Deputy Foreign Minister and National Coordinator for Confronting Anti-Semitism, Georg Georgiev, has met with the leadership of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Boston, his ministry said on Tuesday.

Participants in the meeting included AJC President Jonathan Dorfman, Director Robert Leikind, Bulgaria's Ambassador to the United States, Tihomir Stoichev, and New York Consul General Maya Hristova.

Deputy Foreign Minister Georgiev recalled the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from the Nazi death camps during WWII. "Seventy-six years ago the Bulgarian people proved up to the historic moment and stood up for their Jews. This act marks one of the brightest pages in our history," he said.

He underscored that Bulgaria shares the concern of the world Jewish community and all people over the rise of anti-Semitism and the disturbing attempts to rewrite 20th century history.

"We condemn and reject any such attempts and our answer is the strong commitment to study and relate history in all its tragic complexity. We must face historical reality and learn from the lessons in the past," the Deputy Foreign Minister added.

In his words, active cooperation with the American Jewish community is important both for the development of bilateral Bulgarian-American relations and promoting the strategic partnership with the United States, and to encourage cooperation between Bulgaria and Israel.

By joining the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Bulgaria has shown firm commitment to open debates and in-depth research of Holocaust history, as well as zero tolerance of any signs of political revisionism and anti-Semitism, the press release adds.

On the first day of his visit to the United States Georgiev also met with representatives of the Bulgarian community in Boston. IG/BR

/СН/