site.btaPresident Radev: Rescue of Jewish Community in Bulgaria in WWII Is Moral Example to World of Human Life's Significance

Meeting with representatives of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) here on Tuesday, President Rumen Radev said that the rescue of the Jewish community in Bulgaria in World War Two is a moral example to the world of human life's significance and builds a strong connection between the two peoples. The meeting with the AJC took place at Bulgaria's Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York, the President's press secretariat reported on Wednesday.

Radev also said that the story of this heroic act of Bulgaria in the darkest times for Europe reflects the values of tolerance and humanism, which are founding values for Bulgarian society and should be passed down the generations.

American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch said that the rescue of the Jews in Bulgaria during World War Two was extremely important not only for the Jewish community in the country, but also for Jewish communities around the world. He stressed that this was an act of great symbolic significance on the basis of which the friendly relations between the two nations should be developed.

Later in the day, Radev held talks with representatives of families of Hamas hostages, some of whom are related to Bulgaria. The release of civilians taken hostage is an indicator of humanity, even in war conditions, the President said. He briefed the participants in the meeting on the talks he had held with the heads of state of the Middle East countries, asking for their mediation for the release of hostages. Radev also expressed hope that despite the complicated situation in the Middle East, all the participants in the conflict would make efforts to stop the hostilities and seek a peaceful solution, which would also allow for the quicker release of the hostages.