Crn Volk
10-10-2012, 03:57 AM
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n289363
Utrinski Vesnik, Macedonia: Bulgaria given slap on its territory
08 October 2012 | 09:48 | FOCUS News Agency
Home / Southeast Europe and Balkans
Skopje. The Bulgarian society and media, who reacted fiercely to the film The Third Half and accused Macedonia of a negative and unfriendly campaign against their country, were given a refreshing message on their own territory on Friday, comments the Macedonian daily Utrinski Vesnik.
At a debate in Sofia Jewish representatives and world researches said it was nice that Bulgaria was proud of saving 48,000 Jews from death camps, but now it had to admit allowing the killing of 11,000 Jews from the territories under its control, writes the newspaper, citing FOCUS News Agency.
“You are brave rescuers, but also brutal killers and coldblooded pursuers. You cannot accept one without the other,” Michael Berenbaum, founder of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, said at a conference in Sofia on Friday which aimed to shed light on this dark page of Bulgaria’s history.
“Evil does not have nationality. Clarifying the issue will contribute to the reconciliation in the Balkans,” said Bulgarian political analyst Antoniy Todorov.
According to historians 11,000 Jews from the territories which were administered by Bulgaria and are today in Macedonia and Greece died in Nazi death camps, writes the newspaper.
But Bulgaria uses its reputation of an honorary exception and rescuer of Jews to build contacts with Israel, with both countries preparing to mark next March the 70th anniversary of Sofia’s refusal to send its Jews to the camps.
According to Bulgarian historian Nikolay Poppetrov the matter is politically exploited.
Researchers say Bulgaria carefully avoids speaking about the other side of the WWII and that’s why the treatment to the Macedonian Jews remained to a great extent unknown to the ordinary people in the country. However, this hurt the relations between Sofia and Skopje.
“There is no amnesia in the nation’s memory,” said Macedonian historian Todor Cepreganov, adding the then Bulgarian government, police and monarchy were responsible for the deportation of the Macedonian Jews.
According to some historians Bulgaria had to sacrifice the Jews in the territories under its control in order to save more of its Jews.
According to the Bulgarian journalist of Jewish origin, Emi Baruh, whose family is one of those who escaped deportation, “the interpretation that the lives of 50,000 people were paid with those of 11,000 people is immoral and malicious.”
Utrinski Vesnik, Macedonia: Bulgaria given slap on its territory
08 October 2012 | 09:48 | FOCUS News Agency
Home / Southeast Europe and Balkans
Skopje. The Bulgarian society and media, who reacted fiercely to the film The Third Half and accused Macedonia of a negative and unfriendly campaign against their country, were given a refreshing message on their own territory on Friday, comments the Macedonian daily Utrinski Vesnik.
At a debate in Sofia Jewish representatives and world researches said it was nice that Bulgaria was proud of saving 48,000 Jews from death camps, but now it had to admit allowing the killing of 11,000 Jews from the territories under its control, writes the newspaper, citing FOCUS News Agency.
“You are brave rescuers, but also brutal killers and coldblooded pursuers. You cannot accept one without the other,” Michael Berenbaum, founder of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, said at a conference in Sofia on Friday which aimed to shed light on this dark page of Bulgaria’s history.
“Evil does not have nationality. Clarifying the issue will contribute to the reconciliation in the Balkans,” said Bulgarian political analyst Antoniy Todorov.
According to historians 11,000 Jews from the territories which were administered by Bulgaria and are today in Macedonia and Greece died in Nazi death camps, writes the newspaper.
But Bulgaria uses its reputation of an honorary exception and rescuer of Jews to build contacts with Israel, with both countries preparing to mark next March the 70th anniversary of Sofia’s refusal to send its Jews to the camps.
According to Bulgarian historian Nikolay Poppetrov the matter is politically exploited.
Researchers say Bulgaria carefully avoids speaking about the other side of the WWII and that’s why the treatment to the Macedonian Jews remained to a great extent unknown to the ordinary people in the country. However, this hurt the relations between Sofia and Skopje.
“There is no amnesia in the nation’s memory,” said Macedonian historian Todor Cepreganov, adding the then Bulgarian government, police and monarchy were responsible for the deportation of the Macedonian Jews.
According to some historians Bulgaria had to sacrifice the Jews in the territories under its control in order to save more of its Jews.
According to the Bulgarian journalist of Jewish origin, Emi Baruh, whose family is one of those who escaped deportation, “the interpretation that the lives of 50,000 people were paid with those of 11,000 people is immoral and malicious.”