On the occasion of some fragments taken out of context from an interview in the magazine "Biographer" referred to in the media, Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov made the following statement:
It turned out that without my knowledge a journalist taking an interview for my 60th Birthday has included a fragment from a very old conversation with her, changed it and published it as a real question-answer, as of present times, which is very misleading and offensive. Glued to the interview today, those words do not express my real attitude – before or now - towards the right of people to be different. But I apologize to anyone who may have felt offended. I’m a 60 years old artist, whose “idols” to this very day include great people like Andy Warhol, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Francis Bacon (the painter), George Michael…
I have never allowed any of my statements or actions in any way to infringe upon the right of people to be different. Today, after 60 years of living with art, I still have wonderful friends, and I have never commented on their choice on how they want to live. The only thing we have ever discussed has been the arts, the talent, the intellect and the professional prosperity of each one of us.
I myself am a representative of a minority, and as such I know that all citizens of Bulgaria and all the people in the world are equal before the law and I have never allowed nor would commit discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, beliefs, sexuality, political affiliation, personal or social status or property status. I am strongly opposed to inciting division in society based on differences.
The Minister said words taken out of context from an old interview
Ministry of Culture,
06 January 2012, Bulgaria