Head of State: the power of society is in solidarity and in the helping hand to the needy

“The power of society is in solidarity and in the helping hand to the needy, to all for whom the fate has destined trials and challenges.” This said today the President Rosen Plevneliev before the beginning of the iftar dinner which the Head of State hosted on the occasion of the holy for the Muslims month of Ramadan. Rosen Plevneliev highlighted that this deep expression of respect to the traditions of the Bulgarian Muslims has established as one of the good initiatives of the presidential institution. The iftar dinner was attended by His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte, the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, representatives of the traditional religious denominations in Bulgaria, MPs, representatives of the diplomatic corps, academics, artists and families expelled from the war in Syria.
The Head of State thanked all who with their participation in the iftar dinner have proved once again that in Bulgaria both the celebrations and the difficulties are shared and that together, united and respecting the diversity, we build our common home. “There are many examples when Bulgarian citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation together overcome the daily difficulties, life’s adversities and disasters” further said the President. “Just as some Muslims and Christians from the village of Novi Izvor, Asenovgrad region, recently restored together the church, or just as in the beginning of May in Kardzhali the Regional Mufti and the Parish Priest organized for the whole city qurban for health”, said the Head of State.
The President recalled that just several days ago he awarded with Public Service Order Bulgarian citizens professing Islam who in the darkest years of the totalitarian Communist regime had the courage and the dignity to fight for respecting the fundamental human rights. “Their feat is an example and a prove that the most terrible evil can be prevented if the resistance against it is enough active and explicit and if people from different religions with different ethnical, cultural and social background, with different political views are united and unconditionally say “No to hatred” emphasized the President.
Rosen Plevneliev said that he stands on the side of the truth and against the oblivion and that the dark pages of the past should not be obliterated, but studied and remembered. “I am convinced that the civil solidarity does not have religion or ethnicity, that it is the shortest way to understanding and preservation of the democratic principles for tolerance and mutual respect”, further emphasized the Head of State in his speech.

Grand Mufti: This iftar clearly indicates the maturity and the strength of the pluralistic democratic structure of our country

“I would like to use the opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to the President Rosen Plevneliev and to the institution led by him, for in the first day of the holy for the Muslim world month of Ramadan he gathered us for iftar dinner which is an occasion for strengthening the brotherhood between us”, said the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi in his speech.
According to him this expression of welcome, respect and protection of all citizens on Bulgaria, regardless of religious affiliation, from the President Plevneliev is a worthy example which will be highly appreciated.
“Through your indisputable leadership this iftar dinner which symbolize the good relations, the spirit of solidarity and equality between us, based on the tolerance between all Bulgarian citizens, shows the maturity and the strength of the pluralistic democratic structure of our country”, further said the Grand Mufti.   
According to the religious leader the organized under the auspices and the hospitality of the president iftar dinner sends very important messages for friendship, tolerance and commitment not only to the Muslim world, but to the entire Bulgarian nation, and is met with satisfaction from the Bulgarian Muslims.

The Mission of religion is to guide people to the achievement of the ideal of morality and peace through faith

“The World and the humanity go through very dynamic and changing period. The challenges which we face in the 21st century are many and with different nature. In order to overcome them more than ever we feel the need of solidarity, understanding, tolerance and reconciliation. In such periods the guiding role of the religious beliefs, the moral principles and the social values become more important. The mission of religion is to guide people to the achievement of the ideal for morality and peace through faith. To inspire mutual respect, love and understanding,” said the Grand Mufti.
According to him the mission of the religious leaders is to present the religion to the society in its purest form, in the most understandable for it manner. In order such activity to be successful, it is important to strengthen the mutual love, respect, tolerance and understanding. Of course the greatest responsibility should be taken by the religious leaders which have the task to deal with not a small number of difficulties. However it should be said that when the religious leaders implement their duties and show the way to the religious communities, the existing problems in the field of the religious freedoms should also be solved. Exactly in solving these problems is important the cooperation with the state and the government. Because solving the problems is impossible if there is no shared understanding, good will and mutual help.
“I would like to take the opportunity to express my belief that with the farsighted attitude of the President, the problems faced by the Muslims in Bulgaria, will find their way to be solved. In this sense I would like to highlight that this iftar dinner encourages us”, said Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi.