site.btaPM Borissov: Bulgaria Can Help Improve EU-Turkey Relations with Diplomacy

PM Borissov: Bulgaria Can Help Improve EU-Turkey Relations with Diplomacy

Ankara, June 13 (BTA Special Correspondent Hristo Vodenov) - Emerging from a meeting here on Tuesday with Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov voiced hope that the good tone and tolerance in the EU-Turkey relations will resume in a calmer atmosphere following the elections in many EU countries.

Borissov is paying a one-day visit to Turkey Tuesday. The visit was agreed between the two sides last month when Borissov and Yildirim had a phone call to discuss matters from the bilateral agenda.

"Let's recall the migrant pressure and efforts to protect Bulgaria's border, which is also an EU border. The current low migrant pressure is due to the agreement between the EU and Turkey and the latter's huge efforts to keep the refugees," Borissov said.

Bulgaria is at the border of Europe and Asia and Turkey is its largest neighbour, the Bulgarian Prime Minister said, adding that efforts must be made through a series of regional events and actions to try and normalize the EU-Turkey relations. "This directly affects us and is connected to the customs union, investments and the common borders. With joint efforts we can normalize this process," Borissov said.
He was adamant that the two countries can be an example of goodneighbourliness, voicing optimism that his colleagues in the EU will gradually normalize the relations. Borissov also underscored the importance of the economy and the large-scale trade between the EU and Turkey.

Turkey's Prime Minister Yildirim congratulated Borissov on his 58th birthday, which fell on the day of his visit to Turkey, and on his success in the April Parliamentary elections. Yildirim also noted that Bulgaria is an important neighbour for his country, the government information service said.

He praised Borissov for his friendly attitude towards Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin, adding that the Bulgarian Prime Minister supports them and is a factor and a guarantor, restricting extreme radical actions.

"We are friends, neighbours and allies, we have stable relations, which benefits both peoples," Prime Minister Yildirim said. "We also highly value your categorical solidarity during the attempted military coup d'etat. You were here shortly after and demonstrated solidarity with our government and our people," the Turkish Prime Minister recalled.

He noted that there are common projects on which the two countries can actively work and develop. Starting next year, Bulgaria assumes the EU Presidency, which is important for Turkey's European perspective, Yildirim said, adding that his country is awaiting Bulgaria's support for its EU membership and that the two countries have to work together on controlling the refugee flows and protecting the borders. "So far Bulgaria has contributed to reinforcing the regional stability, voices support for Turkey and we believe that this will continue," Yildirim said.

"I know your personal contribution to Turkey's association in the EU and I thank you for that," the Turkish Prime Minister told Borissov.

For his part, Borissov said that this country is not trying to assume the ambitious role of being a decisive factor in the EU-Turkey relations, which are currently at their lowest point. He recalled the referendums and elections in the Netherlands, France and other countries, when many things were said. "Many of these countries, however, are far from our border and we, with tact and diplomacy, set ourselves the goal of restoring the relations from two years ago, when the agreement for the refugees was signed in Brussels," he said.

A meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also on the agenda of Borissov's visit. He will be received by President Erdogan in his Bestepe Palace. This will make Borissov the first foreign statesman to visit the new presidential complex.

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Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for judicial reform and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva conferred here with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Zaharieva is on the Bulgarian government delegation, led by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

Zaharieva and Cavusoglu discussed issues related to bilateral relations and the region. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that Turkey is a key partner in areas such as migration, security and the fight against terrorism. Zaharieva gave high marks for Turkey's efforts to cope with migrant pressure and voiced hope that the good cooperation will continue.

The two top diplomats noted that the development of bilateral relations should be based on the principles of goodneighbourliness, mutual trust and respect for the national interests of both countries.

The two underscored a 1.7 per cent increase in the commercial exchange between Bulgaria and Turkey, which stood ar 3.5 billion euro in 2016. Bulgarian exports to Turkey totalled 1.9 billion euro, while Turkish imports stood at 1.6 billion euro.