Minister Mitov among the keynote speakers at the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum
09 June 2015 News
Minister Daniel Mitov was among the keynote speakers at the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum. He addressed the AJC Global Forum's World Leaders Plenary. Video address was delivered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was also among the panel speakers.
Introducing the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, the AJC extended gratitude for Bulgaria's role in the EU debates over the inclusion of the military wing of Hezbollah to the EU list of terrorist organizations. In this regard, they expressed personal gratitude to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
In his address, Minister Mitov praised the AJC’s consistent support over the years as regards Bulgaria’s transition to democracy, accession to NATO and the EU, the development of the strategic relations with the US.
The Minister noted that the ties between Bulgaria and the Jewish people have a long history and underlined the strategic partnership that now exists between our country and Israel. We also have historical links with the Palestinian people, who have the right to an own state but also an obligation to respect the integrity and security of its neighbor, he said. In this regard, Minister Mitov emphasized that there is hardly any alternative to a situation where two states will exist side by side, in peace and security, especially with the growing instability in the wider Middle East. He reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for all efforts aimed at progress on the basis of negotiations, not violence or unilateral acts.
In his address, the Foreign Minister referred to the topic of xenophobia and anti-Semitism, saying that the memory of the Holocaust ought to be preserved and shared with every new generation to make sure that Europe never succumbs to radical temptations again. He emphasized on Bulgaria’s tradition of inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance and on the common responsibility to guarantee peaceful and mutually enriching coexistence among different people, religions, and cultures.