Nine leading universities in Bulgaria adopted the working definition of anti-Semitism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
04 February 2021 News
Nine leading Bulgarian universities adopted at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the working definition of anti-Semitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
“We turned to you, guided by the understanding that higher education institutions have always been home to free thinking, a broad outlook and a centre for a place that fosters tolerance and understanding of the "different" - said at the ceremony Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva - according to which to combat a phenomenon in the first place requires its knowledge.” According to her, combat against anti-Semitism through education is not only a long-term educational investment to create a tolerant environment, but also a measure to ensure the security of all Bulgarian citizens, including the Jewish community in the country.
"I believe that your actions will send a strong message for the Bulgarian society, in the spirit of traditional tolerance. With the influence that universities have on shaping public opinion, your support will help draw more attention to this intolerance, which has not only not disappeared, but is now taking on new forms.”
With the working definition of anti-Semitism, according to Ekaterina Zaharieva, higher education institutions receive "another tool to ensure that the young generation, which has no personal connection with World War II and the Holocaust, will have the necessary knowledge to effectively combat intolerance and discrimination."
Deputy Foreign Minister and National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism Georg Georgiev stressed that spreading the definition of anti-Semitism and its knowledge by the younger generation should be a major task.
"I assure you that this presents Bulgaria in an extremely good light, works for its international image and puts us high in the public attention of our foreign partners", Georg Georgiev said. He expressed hope that the example of higher education institutions adopting the working definition of anti-Semitism would be followed by both high schools and primary schools.
The ceremony of adopting the working definition of anti-Semitism by universities was initiated by Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Foreign Minister and National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism Georg Georgiev, as well as the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom" and the Bulgarian office. of the American Jewish Congress.
The event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by the rectors of the 9 universities – the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski”, the University of National and World Economy, the New Bulgarian University, the University of Library Science and Information Technologies, the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, the Southwestern University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, the Plovdiv University “Paisiy Hilendarski”, the National Sports Academy, Sofia, the Medical University, Sofia, as well as the President of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, Assoc. Prof. Alexander Oscar and the chairman of the Bulgarian office of the American Jewish Congress Victor Melamed.
Bulgaria has been a member of the IHRA since 2018, and adopted the working definition of anti-Semitism in October 2017, being the fifth EU member state to take this step. To date, the working definition of anti-Semitism has been adopted and used by 29 countries, as well as by a number of organizations, including the European Commission and the European Parliament.
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