BULGARIA - PRESIDENT AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR

UNCLAS SOFIA 000220 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KISL KPAO BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA - PRESIDENT AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR TOLERANCE IN WAKE OF CARTOON CONTROVERSY REF: STATE 20587 ¶1. SUMMARY: Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov used a media- sponsored tolerance event to call for tolerance in the wake of violence inspired by cartoons of Mohammed. The previously- scheduled event, sponsored jointly by Bulgaria's Turkish- language daily and the largest circulation Bulgarian newspaper, was quickly repackaged to address the international turmoil caused by the Danish publications. Representatives of Bulgaria's three main religions -- Christianity, Islam and Judaism -- came together to mark the common origins of their faiths in the presence of Bulgaria's Chief Mufti Hadzhi, the Rector of the Bulgarian Orthodox Seminary Archbishop Sion and representatives of Bulgaria's Jewish Council. Prime Minister Stanishev has also called upon the Bulgarian media to exercise the necessary respect when reporting on religion, while condemning the acts of violence that have occurred. END SUMMARY. ¶2. In his remarks at the Feb. 9 event, President Purvanov said that he accepted the invitation "...to keep alive the spirit of tolerance, understanding, cooperation, and solidarity, which exists among all of us, regardless of religious, ethnic or other differences." Purvanov used the opportunity to touch on the sensitive issue of the Mohammed cartoons by saying that "the issues of religious and ethnic tolerance are not solved once and for all, even in a country like Bulgaria. Some events we have been observing lately have come to show us that these issues are highly sensitive and tension-prone. This is why we need the wisdom, maturity and responsibility, exhibited by everyone in Bulgaria -- the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church, the Chief Mufti's Office, the Bulgarian government, which reacted quickly and adequately." ¶3. Chief Mufti Hadzhi and Archbishop Sion also spoke about the importance of respect and tolerance among religions. Embassy officers attended the event, which brought together more than 200 Bulgarians of various religious and ethnic backgrounds. Hadzhi noted that Ashure Day (the original reason for the event) has been celebrated for centuries by Bulgarian Muslims but "lives in the heart of the entire Bulgarian nation. This is proof of the peaceful co-existence and the good will of all people in Bulgaria." For Bulgaria's Muslims, who are predominantly Sunni, Ashure or Ashura has been a day of fasting since the time of the early Muslim community. It marks two historical events: the day Nuh (Noah) left the Ark, and the day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah. ¶4. On February 6, Prime Minister Stanishev also made the following statement in response to the controversy. "Bulgaria is country where the different religious communities have co- existed for centuries in a spirit of mutual tolerance and respect. I believe that any infringement on the religious beliefs and convictions of the citizens is unacceptable. I regret that the freedom of expression and press - one of the pillars of any democratic society - could be used in a way, which is perceived as an offence by the faithful, regardless of their religious background. I call on the Bulgarian media to show the necessary respect and to keep in mind the sentiment of the Muslim community when printing their material. I understand the feelings of indignation and anger among the Muslims in various countries around the world, but I also think that the acts of violence and intolerance are unacceptable." ¶5. COMMENT: Although two Bulgarian newspapers have published the Mohammed cartoons, the Muslim response here has been muted. While no doubt offended, Muslim religious leaders have called for peaceful protests. Stressing Bulgaria's tradition of ethnic/religious tolerance, the Government is also working to head off any larger problem. BEYRLE