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Photo: Reuters
Rivlin with Bulgarian President Plevneliev
Photo: Reuters

Rivlin meets with Bulgarian president: Great potential for future cooperation

In state visit to the Balkan country, Israeli president speaks of debt of gratitude Israel owes Bulgaria: '48,000 Jews survived the Holocaust thanks to the heroism of the Bulgarians, and their stance against the Nazis.'

President Reuven Rivlin began his visit to Bulgaria on Thursday morning with an official welcome ceremony and a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev.

 

 

The Bulgarian president gave Rivlin an update on the investigation into the 2012 Burgas terror attack, which claimed the lives of five Israeli tourists.

 

"In our hearts we will always remember the tragedy of the 2012 attack in Burgas. The two countries are doing their best since then so this tragedy may never to repeat itself. Bulgaria will do its utmost to bring to justice the perpetrators of this attack," President Plevneliev said.

 

Rivlin with Bulgarian President Plevneliev (Photo: Reuters)
Rivlin with Bulgarian President Plevneliev (Photo: Reuters)
 

Two of the suspected accomplices in the bombing, which was blamed on Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah, are expected to be put on trial in absentia within days, the Balkan country's president said.

 

The accomplices were named by Bulgarian prosecutors as Meliad Farah and Hassan El Hajj.

 

"None of us will rest until the people who committed the attack, as well as those who organized it, are brought to court. This will in fact be very soon ... It is a matter of days," Plevneliev told a news conference in Sofia after his meeting with Rivlin.

 

Rivlin addressed the attack as well, saying "We must all stand strong together and say in a loud and clear voice that above all else, we will fight terrorism and its supporters in any place they may try and reach and in every place they will attempt to hide."

 

The Israeli president also spoke of the debt of gratitude Israel owes Bulgaria, both for its support of the Jewish state when it was first established and for standing by its Jewish community during the Holocaust.

 

"We will not forget the asylum you gave our people during the terrible Holocaust that killed six million of our brothers and sisters, in the darkest period known in Europe. Forty eight thousand Jews survived the Holocaust thanks to the heroism of the Bulgarians, and their stance against the Nazis," he said.

 

During his visit, Rivlin will inaugurate a monument commemorating the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II.

 

Rivlin with Bulgarian President Plevneliev (Photo: Reuters)
Rivlin with Bulgarian President Plevneliev (Photo: Reuters)

 

The two presidents discussed in their meeting the strong relations between Israel and Bulgaria and expanding the cooperation.

 

"The results of years of diplomatic relations are apparent for all to see in many areas," Rivlin said after the meeting. "Much more potential for future cooperation awaits us, and I hope that my visit today will help to promote them, and will strengthen our friendship."

 

The Bulgarian president added, "Israel is a strategic partner and there is huge potential for bilateral cooperation in various fields including high-tech, electronics, energy, agriculture and more. We will continue and develop businesses between the countries and we will establish new projects that will provide many opportunities for Bulgaria and Israel. We welcome the Israeli tourists who come to the country every year. Thousands of Israelis visited Bulgaria last year, and we will be happy to see more and more Bulgarians visiting Israel. We also see Israel as a potential supplier of gas to our region. In view of our strategic location we can deliver gas to Europe from Israel."

 

President Plevneliev stressed the defense cooperation between the two countries and noted that cooperation in this field has never been more successful, and said: "We want to be of help to Israel in Europe, and hope that Bulgaria will be the platform for the realization of Israeli interests. The friendship between me and the President (Rivlin) is strong and it will benefit the two peoples."

 

Rivlin also met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the two discussed the political situation in the Middle East and specifically the growing threat posed by ISIS. They also spoke about the absorption of Syrian refuges making their way to Europe and the support of terrorism by states such as Iran.

 

Rivlin is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Jewish community on Thursday.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.07.16, 20:06
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