This article is from page 13 of the 2011-09-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
THE Bulgarian Ambassador to Ireland has praised students in Clare for their efforts to ensure that the lessons of the most “infamous period of European history” are not forgotten.
Mr Emil Yalnazov was speaking in Ennis last week at the opening of a new exhibition that shows how the bravery of Bulgarian citizens during World War II saved the lives of an estimated 50,000 Jewish people.
‘The Power of Civil Society: the fate of Jews in Bulgaria during the Holocaust’, is currently on display in the De Valera Public Library in Ennis.
Mr Yalnazov, presented the exhibition to Holocaust Education Trust Ireland (HETI) on behalf of the Republic of Bulgaria State Institute for Culture and Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
HETI has provided the exhibition for display in branches of Clare County Library, earlier in the year in Shannon and currently in Ennis.
The exhibition demonstrates how the collective voice of the people of Bulgaria prevented the deportation of its Jewish population to the concentration and death camps of the Third Reich.
Speaking in Ennis last week, Mr Yalnazov said it was his “distinct honour” to introduce an exhibition “dedicated to a remarkable episode of history”.
He said the goal of the exhibition is to record history and pay tribute to the many known and unknown Bulgarian citizens who protected Jewish people at great risk to their lives.
He explained that all sectors of Bulgarian civil society – the community, professional classes, politicians and the church – engaged in “remarkable acts of humanism and bravery”.
Addressing students of Coláiste Mhuire and members of the Clare Active Citizenship network, Mr Yalnazov explained that despite Bulgaria being an ally of the Nazis, almost 50,000 Jewish lives were saved through the actions of Bulgarian citizens.
“To act against this dominating force is what is remarkable about Bulgarian civil society at the time. It was courageous,” he added.
Accompanied by his wife Sylvia, Mr Yalnazov praised students in Clare for their interest in the exhibition, which he said conveys a “message of peace to a young generation”.
“We take peace and reconciliation for granted but we need to remember that this was not always a fact,” he added. The exhibition runs in Ennis until October 1.