site.btaVisiting Turkish PM Davutoglu Confers with Prime Minister Borissov, President Plevneliev

Visiting Turkish PM Davutoglu
Confers with Prime Minister Borissov,
President Plevneliev


Sofia, December 15 (BTA) - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid a working visit to Bulgaria on Tuesday. In Sofia Davutoglu conferred with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov and President Rosen Plevneliev.

Bilateral Relations

"The visit to Sofia shows our close good-neighbourly relations and our common destiny," Davutoglu said. "We will prioritize our relations with Bulgaria," he stressed. "Our two-way trade will be increased from the current 5,000 million dollars. We will implement major transport projects, including a high-speed rail link between Sofia and Istanbul. We will link Bulgaria to Turkey through an interconnector for the supply of gas from Azerbaijan. We share a commitment to the Turkish population in Bulgaria, which is a bridge between the two countries," he added.

Borissov said that Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece have decided to build interconnectors which, together with the Balkan Gas Hub, will achieve genuine diversification and unimpeded flow of natural gas in all directions. "I hope that the transport ministers will invite us soon to the opening of a railway between Bulgaria and Turkey on which trains travel at a speed of 180-190 km/h," he pointed out.

The Bulgarian PM said that signing an agreement on medicines policy had also been on the agenda.

Migrant Crisis

"I can safely say that our border is not under migration pressure," Borissov said at a joint news conference with his guest.

Regarding migration pressure, the Turkish Prime Minister noted that "this human drama is not a problem for Turkey alone, which is paying the highest price," but a global problem. He pointed to his country's desire to pursue bilateral cooperation, in addition to the joint efforts of the EU, in suppressing illegal migration.

In home affairs, work is under way on operations against human traffickers, Borissov said. "There are people who make enormous profits against the background of this human tragedy. I hope that our services will show tangible results in this department," the PM added.

Borissov said that the two countries' interior ministers and chief secretaries interact on various operations which are expected to produce results. The Bulgarian PM thanked the Turkish side for its support in combating smuggling.

Borissov said that the fence along Bulgaria's border with Turkey is intended to prevent illegal border crossing. "We do not have a barrier between Bulgaria and Turkey, we simply help each other so that everything is lawful," he explained.

Turkey's Bid to Join EU

"Borissov backed Turkey's bid for EU membership, for which we are grateful, and we also discussed regional policies involving Greece as well, and the human tragedy of Syrian refugees. I hope that we will hold a high-level meeting between the two governments in Sofia in April," Davutoglu also said.

Borissov wished Turkey to complete the process of accession to the EU as fast as possible. Replying to a question, he said that each country which fulfills the established criteria for accession to the EU has the right to seek accession.

Approached for comment, Davutoglu said that his Government is committed to the reforms in connection with the country's accession to the EU and these reforms will continue "at full speed".

Turkey-Russia

On the subject of Russian-Turkish relations, the Turkish Prime Minister said that his country does not want any tensions with Russia because tensions affect neighbouring countries and world peace. "We are ready to discuss all sorts of questions with Russia," Davutoglu added. He hopes that at some point Turkey and Russia will restart their traditional cooperation.

"Patience is one of the principal merits of a man," Borissov said on the same subject. "I hope that both sides will show reason, Russia and Turkey have been best friends for quite a few years, that they will find a way to mend their relations, so that this time we, too, will demonstrate our patience," he added.

Meeting with President Plevneliev

Advancing EU-Turkey partnership is key to stemming the flow of illegal migrants and
boosting security along EU's external borders, said President Rosen Plevneliev during the meeting with Davutoglu.

The head of State expressed Bulgaria's support for steps taken by the Turkish authorities in regard to the inflow of Syrian refugees and EU's decision to extend financial aid to Turkey to tackle the problem. Plevneliev hailed Turkey's efforts to
implement controls at the Turkish-Bulgarian border and stem migratory pressure on Bulgaria.

The changed security conditions in the Black Sea region as result of the Ukraine crisis and the conflict in Syria call for closer cooperation between NATO members, the interlocutors concurred.

The two discussed the prospects for further expansion of the cooperation in the energy diversification which is of strategic importance not only for the region of Southeast Europe but for the EU as well. Plevneliev said that Bulgaria supports the faster construction of the Trans Adriatic gas pipeline that will bring gas from the Caspian region to the Balkans and Europe. The President reaffirmed this country's interest in the construction of the gas interconnector with Turkey.

The two officials concurred that the better transport and energy connectivity and the implementation of large infrastructure projects, particularly within the so-called New Silk Road concept from China to Europe, create opportunities for a faster economic growth in the entire region.

Plevneliev and Davutoglu confirmed the determination of the two countries to work to double the bilateral commercial exchange which stood at 5,000 million euro in 2015. Tourism was singled out as a particularly promising area. The two officials also agreed that the second intergovernmental meeting of the High-level Council for Cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkey will be held in the first half of 2016. VI, PK/DD, LG, PP, ZH


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