site.btaTurkish Ambassador: 'Turkey Does Not Threat Bulgaria's National Security'

Turkish Ambassador:'Turkey Does Not Threat Bulgaria's National Security'

Sofia, April 25 (BTA) - Turkey does not interfere and does not influence the internal affairs of any country, including Bulgaria, Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Suleyman Gokce said in an interview for Nova TV on Tuesday. Any allegations to the contrary are unjustified, manipulative and distorting the facts, he added. "Bulgaria knows nothing of terrorism and I hope it will never learn about it because it is something terrible," the diplomat noted.

"The talking that Turkey is an enemy and meddles with Bulgaria's home affairs and that it is a threat to its national security should stop. It is not efficient, positive or useful. It does not facilitate bilateral relations. We have [common] history of hundreds of years and we have a common future as well," he said.

Indeed, the highest number of voting Bulgarians abroad are in Turkey. However, the number of polling stations is deliberately being reduced to compel these people go and vote in another country. Do you think this is a modern way of resolving these issues, he asked.

Asked to comment on the referendum, recently held in his country, Gokce replied: "I think it was successful and I do not agree with criticism that it was not held fairly. There were more than 175,000 district commissions, more than a million representatives and observers, nominated by all political parties. Around three thirds of them were from opposition parties, which is a huge number," the Ambassador said.

Asked whether the capital punishment will be reinstated in Turkey, the Ambassador said that he would not comment on certain political aspects and, on his turn, asked why Bulgaria would be interested in this question.

"You should not yield to populist pressure. The true questions that are on the agenda of the Bulgarian citizens are quite different. Bulgaria is a wonderful country and we appreciate and support your prosperity and stability," Gokce noted.