Borissov: We are here to show respect and sympathy towards the Holocaust victims, also to draw conclusion that the Balkans should work together

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov, in his remarks at commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the deportation of Macedonian Jews to the Treblinka death camp, said that the Nazis who were here did cruel things to living human beings. Certainly, we are very sorry, and we are here today, because every human being who was sent to be burnt in the death camps should not be forgotten.

“Today we are here to show respect and sympathy towards the killed people, but also to draw conclusion and understand that on the Balkans we should build, work together, to go for better organisation and nations to live happily and all that to remain in the history,” Borissov said.

He reminded that 20 years ago also crude and bloody events happened in the Balkans. He urged victims not to be forgotten, and politicians must not allow same mistakes to be made again.

“If, God forbid, we allow similar events to happen again, then we are stupid. We, the current politicians have responsibility. We have not forgotten them and that’s why we came together with the Macedonian people to express sorrow for all victims not being able to be saved from the Nazi machine,” Borissov emphasized.

He pointed out that commemoration was held in Sofia in one of the largest synagogues in Europe with the representatives of the Jewish community and other guests whereat they expressed deep respect to Bulgarian people, church, intellectuals who succeeded to save 48,000 Jews in those perhaps toughest times and for that reason Bulgarian people deserve great respect.

Earlier, Borissov took part in the ‘March of the Living’ which started in front of the Museum of the City of Skopje and ended at the tobacco warehouse which in 1943 was used as the location from which the 7,144 Jews were deported to Treblinka death camp in occupied Poland.

Zaev joined the march along with Chairman’s Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdic who heads the delegation on official visit to Macedonia.