An exhibition entitled „The Power of Civil Society: the Fate of Jews in Bulgaria” was opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
An exhibition entitled „The Power of Civil Society: the Fate of Jews in Bulgaria” gathered together at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomats, community leaders, representatives of the Jewish community in Bulgaria, researchers studying the events that took place in 1943.
The social protest and action following the decision of the Bulgarian government to deport Jews from Bulgaria in 1943 are not just a sign of vital civil consciousness, but also a constant reminder about decisions that should not be taken, underlined Mr. Ivaylo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as he opened the exhibition. The event takes place in the year of international dialogue, which is also the year of the 100th anniversary of Bulgaria’s independence. Minister Kalfin also noted that the exhibition is a project whose messages refer to the UN-sponsored “Alliance of Civilizations” initiative, where Bulgaria is an active participant. He also stated he hoped the exhibition would be the Foreign Ministry’s contribution to the dialogue promoting tolerance of and respect for cultural and religious freedoms.
In her address to the people present at the opening Dr. Liudmila Dimitrova, Director of the State Institute of Culture, noted it is not by mere chance that the opening of such an exhibition takes place at the institution involved in designing and implementing Bulgaria’s foreign policy. She added that the message of the documentary exhibition is that sometimes foreign policy decisions can be altered by civil society when the latter is strong enough to defend its faith in the principles of fairness, humanity and compassion. She thanked the Centre for European Studies at the “St. Kliment of Ohrid” University of Sofia and especially Dr. Albena Taneva and Prof. Tanev thanks to whom the exhibition is a fact. She also stated that the mobile exhibition will be displayed around Europe and the world, as well as around Bulgaria.
This is not a story about good and bad peoples, but a story about good and bad decisions and their consequences, Dr. Taneva underlined, as she presented the concept of creating the exhibition.
A short emotional speech was also delivered by Dr. Emil Kalo, who shared his view of the issue and stated that this is the only way – step by step, day by day, and week by week we need to show ourselves and the world that there, in this frequently mistreated Bulgaria, lives a one of a kind people. Can we make a monument that displays this people? How big should the monument be?
The exhibition comprises 21 posters with photographs, document copies and text showing the sequence of the events under consideration and social and political processes in Bulgaria and the world that took place in parallel to them.