site.btaBulgaria Regards Israel as Key Strategic Partner, PM Zhelyazkov Says

Bulgaria regards the State of Israel as a key strategic partner, and the excellent relations between the two countries could provide a strong impetus in trade, innovation, education, agriculture and tourism, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said at a meeting with leading Jewish organizations in New York, as quoted by the Council of Ministers’ press service.

Zhelyazkov noted that historical memory is the first bond linking Bulgaria and the Jewish people. 2025 marked 82 years since the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, a landmark event that united Bulgarians from all walks of life. To this day it is not forgotten, as every year the Bulgarian people recall the moment when the nation raised its voice to defend the right of its fellow citizens of Jewish origin to live.

“Bulgaria consistently calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The hostage crisis directly affects our country, as one Bulgarian national remains held by Hamas,” Zhelyazkov said. He stressed the need to guarantee the protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers, at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure such as medical facilities, schools and UN premises.

The Bulgarian PM also noted that combating antisemitism is one of Bulgaria’s leading foreign policy priorities in the field of human rights. The country is currently implementing its first National Action Plan against Antisemitism, adopted by the Council of Ministers in October 2023.

Mark Levin, Executive Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ), said the meeting was an expression of the long-standing friendship and mutual respect between Bulgaria and the Jewish community. He stressed that dialogue, memory and cooperation lay at the foundation of their strong ties and of their efforts for a better and fairer future for all. He also highlighted the importance of Bulgaria’s consistent position in the fight against antisemitism and in support of intercultural understanding, adding that continued cooperation in education, preservation of historical memory and the promotion of tolerance in society was of particular importance.

Gideon Taylor, Chair of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, commented that only through cooperation could the past be preserved and its lessons not neglected.