Irina Bokova

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the year when the international community marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Bulgaria observes the 65th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews from deportation.

The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews is a source of great national pride, but it is not to be regarded as a random, offhand occurrence. This act is the result of a century-old policy of tolerance, mutual respect and understanding among the different religious and ethnic communities on Bulgarian soil.

Solidarity, humanism and tolerance are essential characteristics of the Bulgarian people. It can clearly be stated that modern-day Bulgaria attaches paramount importance to humanism through its aspiration towards tolerance, democracy and peace.

The rescue of almost 48 000 Bulgarian Jews in March 1943 is, without a doubt, a great and beautiful lesson in humanism and tolerance. The entire Bulgarian society had combined its efforts to avoid the tragedy of deportation.

Since 2002, March 10th, the date the rescue of Bulgarian Jews began, has been marked in our country as a day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews. Since 2003, this memorable date has been written down in the official calendar of the Republic of Bulgaria by decision of the Council of Ministers.

The exhibition we are opening tonight is entitled Condamnés et rescapés (Condemned and Rescued) and it offers us the opportunity to reflect upon the sufferings of the Holocaust and the power of civic activity aimed at overthrowing political discrimination. With this exhibition, Bulgaria would like to highlight one of the most wonderful pages in its history.

The exhibition, consisting of 22 panels, recreates the dramatic fate of Bulgarian Jews from the period 1940-1943. The photos and the accompanying text deliver the fundamental and universal message that all forms of anti-Semitism, intolerance and discrimination can be overcome everywhere, even under the most impossible circumstances.

At moments like this, Bulgaria experiences a justified feeling of national pride of the fact that thanks to its politicians and citizens, it succeeded in saving the lives of thousands of people and defending their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Today, we voice our gratitude to all the political parties, democratic organisations and civillians who dared to oppose the deportation. We also bow down before the intellectuals, writers and artists, who were among the most active participants in the national protest.

Tonight we also remember, with particular respect, the firm stand of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, whose exceptional role in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews is now duely recognized.

On a day like this, we should no longer shy away from the issue of the responsibility of the then government for the fate of 11 343 Bulgarian Jews from Macedonia and Thrace, who were deprived of their Bulgarian citizenship and deported to the death camps. It is indeed our duty to send a clear message that nobody and nothing has been forgotten.

There are subjects from the past that should not be ignored by history. There are events in which achievement and failure intertwine in a way that will morally challenge future generations.

Each of the next generations will try to reach beyond the evident chronology, statistics and political history in search of hidden messages. We cannot change the past. But it is our duty not to forget it. And more important still, we must preserve our susceptibility of it so as not to allow new acts of genocide.

All attempts to question or deny the existence of the Holocaust or of any other crime against humanity are pitiful. UNESCO has a very important part to play in the continuity of this awareness, particularly with regard to younger generations.

Through all of its activities and programs, UNESCO constantly encourages quality in education, the instilling of certain values, dialogue, tolerance, respect for differences and rich cultural diversity.

This heavy responsibility we have remains, unfortunately, a current issue and we should aim to maintain our capacity for action.