The Bulgarian Consulate General continues to maintain active contacts with representatives of the American Jewish community in its consular district. Within the last month the Consul General of Bulgaria in New York Mr.  Angel Angelov took part in the following events:  

• On November 21, 2022 the Consul General had a meeting at the Consulate General with high-ranking representatives of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). During the meeting the following topics were discussed: the political situation in Bulgaria; the priorities of the Consulate General; Bulgaria-Israel relations; the fight against antisemitism; the war in Ukraine. The AJC representatives expressed their appreciation for Bulgaria’s commitment to combating antisemitism and pointed out that Bulgaria was among the first countries, which had adopted IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism. In this context, Mr. Angelov informed that a permanent positon of a national coordinator on combating antisemitism was created in Bulgaria, which is held by a deputy foreign minister. Angelov shared his ideas for the commemoration of the 80^th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews.

• On December 1, 2022 the Consul General participated in a discussion entitled How to Develop and Implement a Strategy to Combat Antisemitism. The event was organized by the Czech diplomatic representations in New York and the World Jewish The guests were welcomed by the President of WJC Ronald Lauder. The main focus of the event was a panel discussion with the participation of representatives of the Czech government, the Jewish community in the Czech Republic and the UN. The Bulgarian Consul General made a short intervention during the discussion and informed about Bulgaria’s progress in developing a National Plan on Combating Antisemitism, as well as about his own participation in the working group which was formed to draft it.

• On December 12, 2022 the Consul General had the honor to participate in the Hanukkah Candle Lighting Ceremony. The event was organized by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for their partners from the diplomatic community and the local authorities. The guests were welcomed by the New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz. The Deputy Consul General of Israel was special guest at the event. Members of AJC designated to maintain contacts with the Bulgarian diplomatic representations in New York were also present. The invitation to the Bulgarian Consul General to take part in the candle lighting ceremony could be viewed as a recognition of Bulgaria’s commitment to issues, which are of significant importance for the American Jewish organizations, such as combating antisemitism, as well as of the excellent cooperation of the Bulgarian diplomatic representations in the US with those organizations.  

• On December 2022 the Consul General posted a greeting on the occasion of Hanukkah on his Facebook page.