site.btaMRF Delegation Is Visiting Turkey

Photo: www.dps.bg

Istanbul, June 5 (BTA special by Nahide Deniz) - "Turks in Bulgaria are a cement which holds together relations between Bulgaria and Turkey. We are developing very good bilateral relation with Bulgaria with which we have historical and geographical ties," said Justice and Development Party deputy chairman Numan Kurtulmus meeting with a delegation of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, led by leader Mustafa Karadayi, in Ankara on Friday.

During the talks Kurtulmus underscored that he saw the MRF's visit as an important step in the establishment of good dialogue for the development of bilateral relations and also in the Balkan region.

Special attention was paid to the upcoming general elections on July 11.

Kurtulmus assured the delegation that Turkey will put in place all conditions so that voters living in Turkey who hold Bulgarian citizenship can exercise their right to voting in the polling section on the territory of Turkey.

"The existence of the Bulgarian Turks and the continuation of the mutual dialogue with them is of benefit both to Turkey and to them. We don't see Turkey as consisting only of Turkey. What we call the wealth of our nation are not only the 84 million citizens of the Republic of Turkey," said Kurtulmus, expressing hope for even greater success of the MRF in the July 11 elections.

"We always stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers who are a bridge of friendship and cooperation between Turkey and Bulgaria," tweeted Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the occasion of his meeting with the MRF delegation.

The Bulgarian guests met with the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party Kemal Kilicdaroglu and senior representatives including MP Yuksel Ozkan, who is an emigrant from Bulgaria. The sides discussed issues related to boosting cooperation.

The MRF delegation includes deputy chairman Ahmed Ahmedov and MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk.

According to information of the Anadolu Agency the guests from Bulgaria visited the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. The Agency quotes Karadayi, as saying that the delegation is expected to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. NV/PP