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Maxim Behar Joins Dinner with Bush, Merkel and Annan in Washington

Maxim Behar, chairman of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum and CEO of Bulgaria's PR leading company M3 Communications Group, Inc., joined a star-studded American Jewish Committee's centennial dinner Thursday evening, attended by President Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The Washington gala highlighted a week of celebrations on the 100th anniversary since the establishment of the American Jewish Committee, a human rights group, with interests far beyond Israel and the Jewish experience.

President of Poland Lech Kaczynski, newly elected Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Australian PM John Howard greeted the dinner with special video messages.

In his address President George W. Bush said the United States would not falter in its commitment to the security of Israel and would have no contact with Hamas leaders of the Palestinian government until the militant group recognizes the Jewish state.

"America's commitment to Israel's security is strong, enduring and unshakable," Bush said at the 100th anniversary gala of the American Jewish Committee.

"Hamas has made it clear that they do not acknowledge the right of Israel to exist, and I made it clear that so long as that's their policy we will have no contact with the leaders of Hamas. Hamas must accept the demands of the international community to recognize Israel, disarm and reject terrorism, and stop blocking the path to peace," Bush said.

He stressed the United States and the international community were concerned about the Iranian regime because it was "repressing its people, sponsoring terrorists, destabilizing the region, threatening Israel, and defying the world with its ambitions for nuclear weapons.

"America will continue to rally the world to confront these threats. We will continue to press the Iranian government to comply with the IAEA, as well as U.N. Security Council resolutions."

Bush introduced German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who became the first German chancellor to address the annual meeting of the American Jewish Committee.

"I know that this is anything but a matter of course for a chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany to be invited to address you here tonight," Merkel said.

Fifty five countries were represented at the dinner. Former German Foreign Minister Joshka Fisher and many other politicians were among the participants in the event at the Washington's National Building Museum.

Maxim Behar, Emil Kalo, president of Bulgaria's Jewish organization Shalom, and Victor Melamed, head of the Bulgarian Zionist Movement were Bulgaria's representatives at the dinner, whose guests list read like a who's who in modern day international politics.
 
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