President Rosen Plevneliev today laid a wreath at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, paying his respects to the victims of the Holocaust.

The President visited the Holocaust Museum and the Hall of Names in the memorial complex. Thanks to the efforts of Yad Vashem, the names have been confirmed of more than 4.1 million of the Jews who died in concentration camps during World War 2. President Plevneliev took part in the ceremony of the lighting of the eternal flame and laid a wreath at the monument to the dead.

Later in the day, the Bulgarian President planted a tree in the “Grove of Nations” near Jerusalem. The “Grove of Nations” in Israel was established at the initiative of UNESCO and the Council of Europe, to plant olive trees in the Mediterranean region as a symbol of the common aspiration of people for peace and co-existence. “Bulgaria and Israel have always shared a special relationship based on warm feelings, trust and shared values. The test of time and history have made this connection into a true friendship,” the President said. He emphasised that only the united nations of the world will be able to cope with the challenges of time and create a better world based on the principles of humaneness, tolerance and trust.