In Sofia, Israel’s President Shimon Peres has paid tribute to Bulgaria’s record with respect to the plight of its Jewish population during World War II. Peres said that the country had “suffered much from many directions, including from the Nazis, but the country managed not only to save itself, but also to save the Bulgarian Jews".
"I am sincerely grateful for this," Peres said in a speech, after he was bestowed by Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov with an order in recognition of his "great contribution towards strengthening and developing Bulgarian-Israeli bilateral relations".
Peres was in Bulgaria to discuss cooperation between Israel and Bulgaria in technology, industry and tourism. His visit follows Purvanov’s trip to Israel in 2008, and "is the result of the high level of bilateral cooperation in all spheres", an official statement of the Bulgarian government said.