site.btaBursa Has Gained Significantly from Bulgarian Turks - Chair of Turkiye-Bulgaria Friendship Group in Turkish Parliament

In a special interview with the Bulgarian News Agency on the occasion of the start of Turkiye’s new political season, launched with the opening of Parliament on October 1, Mustafa Yavuz, chair of the Bulgaria-Turkiye Friendship Group in the Turkish Parliament, outlined the legislature’s priorities for the coming year. He also reflected on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s address and discussed prospects for developing relations between Bulgaria and Turkiye.

The fact that he was elected as a representative of Bursa - one of the districts with the largest Bulgarian expatriate communities, is one of the reasons why Yavuz was also elected as chair of the Turkiye-Bulgaria Friendship Group. He said that they were among the main factors contributing to the development of bilateral ties, adding that Bursa itself had greatly benefited from the contributions of Bulgarians.

“Bulgarian Turks, as well as people of Turkish descent from other Balkan countries, have provided Bursa with a lot of added value, greatly contributing to the culture, business, social life, and politics. From this perspective, I believe Bursa is a very fortunate city. We must also recognize the hard work of Bulgarian Turks. They have played a significant role in commerce and the economy, and they stand out as a model for others,” Yavuz said.

Among the issues raised by Bulgarian Turks in meetings with their representatives, Yavuz listed the need for simpler procedures to obtain citizenship, mutual recognition and legalization of official documents, and the removal of administrative barriers between the two countries.

The MP described the new political season as a time when the country will need even greater unity. He added that every parliamentary voice must be heard because MPs represent the will of the people.

“I believe some of the most important tasks before the Grand National Assembly during the new political season include drafting a new Constitution, revising the law on political parties, and legislative initiatives tied to Turkiye’s counter-terrorism plan. Routine business includes addressing the laws required by the ministries, as well as legislation concerning digital platforms and media, since these directly affect our children and young people. Once these steps are taken, I believe the environment in our country will change significantly,” Yavuz said.