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Rumen Radev: Turkey is Bulgaria’s Important Neighbor, Partner and Ally and it is Essential for our Bilateral Relations that We do not Leave Unsolved Problems

Turkey is Bulgaria’s important neighbor, partner and ally and it is essential for our bilateral relations that we do not leave unsolved problems between the two countries. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan held within the NATO summit in Brussels. At the talks the Bulgarian Head of State recalled that it is our neighbor Turkey’s turn to specify a date and host the meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission on the unsolved property and social issues among which is providing compensations for the property of the Thracian refugees.

Bulgaria is ready to offer financial assistance for the activity of the clergy of the constitutionally recognized religious communities in our country, President Radev emphasized. The Head of State extended gratitude to his counterpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the support provided by Turkey to our country for paying the salaries of the Muslim clerics throughout the years when Bulgaria could not afford it. The Bulgarian Head of State briefed his Turkish counterpart on the bill tabled in the National Assembly on amendments in the Denomination Act.  “Since I took office I have insisted that such a law be adopted and hopefully during the debates in the National Assembly the best solution will be found, which will promote the integration of the different religious communities in Bulgarian society. This includes allocating funds by the Bulgarian state to meet their needs,” Rumen Radev said. The guarantee for our good relations lies in respecting the domestic political process concerning the activities of parties and the election process, he further clarified.

The two presidents were unanimous that the registered over 5.5 billion dollars trade in 2017 does not meet the potential of the two countries. In President Erdogan’s view, reaching 10 billion dollars is a real opportunity and requires joint efforts in this direction.

“The natural continuation of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline is through Bulgaria and the two governments should work in a constructive manner to this end,” President Radev further called for.

I reply to a journalist’s question after the end of the meeting regarding why was he the only president  of an EU member state present at the inauguration ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rumen Radev said that neither the European Commission, nor the Bulgarian government have ensured his term in office. “I have been elected for this position by the Bulgarian people and I am acting on  behalf of the people,” the Head of State emphasized.