Nine leading Bulgarian universities adopted the working definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) at a ceremony at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“With the working definition of antisemitism, 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,” said Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.
Deputy Foreign Minister and National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism Georg Georgiev stressed that spreading the definition of antisemitism and its knowledge by the younger generation should be a major task. He expressed hope that the example of higher education institutions adopting the definition of antisemitism would be followed by both high schools and primary schools.
The event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by the rectors of the nine universities: The Medical University of Sofia, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, UNWE – University of National and World Economy, New Bulgarian University, University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, The St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, The Southwest University “Neofit Rilski” in Blagoevgrad, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, The Vassil Levski National Sports Academy.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Alexander Oscar, the President of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, the country’s EJC affiliate and the President of the Bulgarian Office of the American Jewish Congress Victor Melamed.
