The process of rescuing Bulgarian Jews is one of the strongest examples of the might and the importance of the dialogue held between the people’s representatives, the civil society and the Church, National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva has stated before the participants in the event marking the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. The latter took place on January 27, 2016 in the Aula of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

“On a day like this one the sorrow overshadows rational explanations. The mass annihilation and the destruction of the destinies of millions of people goes beyond the human abilities of understanding”, Tsetska Tsacheva stressed. She added that the still active debate, taking place in the Bulgarian society - for the need to take pride in the deeds of the saviors, but at the same time to grieve about those who we could not rescue, shows how the topic remains important to this day.

According to Tsetska Tsacheva the memories of the policies of genocide and obliteration of cultural identity should serve as a constant warning to all who face today again the danger of hatred, fanaticism, racism and prejudices. Today, once again, the traditions of tolerance and mutual understanding are submitted to the growing pressure of hatred and fear. “We need an active tolerance and much more civil solidarity in the face of the aggressive pretentions looking to establish one and only cultural model”, Tsetska Tsacheva added.

“The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust for us, Bulgarians, is not only a day to observe the memory of the victims, but also a day to pay respect to the courage of the saviors, of those who risked their life and wellbeing in order to help their compatriots”, stressed National Assembly president Tsetska Tsacheva. She added the rescue of the Bulgarian Jewry is part of our national identity.

The head of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, underscored that 27th January is only one of the dates when Bulgaria pays respect to the victims of the Holocaust. “On this day we honor the victims and the achievements of the Bulgarians who succeeded to save a small number of the people trapped in genocide. It seems to me that we Bulgarians feel proud and at the same time, just because we had contributed to saving people, we sense the tragic side of these events”, Gerdzhikov noted. “We should not forget that it is our duty to recall the victims and keep the memory alive in order to not let even the slightest doubt to emerge that such thing could happen to anyone again”, he said further.

At the event dedicated to the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust reports delivered the Ambassador of Israel to Bulgaria, H. E. Irit Lilian, Mr. Angel Chorapchiev, professor at the University of Haifa and historian, working in the Yad Vashem Archives; prof. Iskra Baeva, PhD and Rumiana Hristidi, assoc. professor, both from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Faculty of History. The forum was attended by the deputy foreign minister of Bulgaria, Rumen Alexandrov, diplomats, university teachers, scientists and students.

An exhibition in memory of the Holocaust victims was presented in the central lobby of Sofia University.