site.btaVice President Yotova Attends National Meeting of Thracian Refugees

Sofia, April 28 (BTA) - Vice President Iliana Yotova on Saturday attended the ninth national meeting of the descendants of Thracian refugees in Nessebur.

Yotova said: "We have to raise the issue of compensation for Thracian refugees at every meeting with the Turkish authorities. President Rumen Radev and I are your strongest allies in seeking justice," said Yotova.

Yotova recalled that the European Parliament had issued a resolution which raises demands for just settlement.

The Vice President said that as EU member Bulgaria should insist on fulfiling the criteria for good neighbourly relations and adderssing bilateral issues within the negotiation process with the EU.

In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) 200,000 Bulgarians from Eastern and Western Thrace, present-day Turkey, were driven out of their homes.

The meeting began with the re-enactment of the arrival of a ship loaded with refugees from Western Thrace. Today the descendants of Thracian refugees in Nessebur number over 4,000.