site.btaTurkish Politicians, Diplomats Attend Reception in Ankara Dedicated to Bulgarian National Holiday

A reception on the occasion of Bulgaria's national holiday - March 3, was organized at the Bulgarian Embassy in Ankara on Wednesday.

The event was attended by Turkiye's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Turkish General Staff Chief Metin Gurak, the chairperson of the Turkiye-Bulgaria Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mustafa Yavuz, the Bulgarian Consul General in Edirne, Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, former Turkish ambassador to Bulgaria Aylin Sekizkok.

Bulgarian Ambassador to Turkiye Angel Cholakov pointed out that Turkiye and Bulgaria are neighbors, partners, friends and allies in many areas, including political dialogue at the highest level, economy, tourism, culture, border security, etc. 

Cholakov recalled that in early 2025 Turkey handed over to Bulgaria the command of the Mine Countermeasures Maritime Group in the Black Sea (MCM Black Sea - a joint initiative of Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania).

The Ambassador highlighted that 2024 has ended with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Alkomet - one of the most successful Turkish investors in Bulgaria and the region.

Cholakov added that the cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkiye is even realized in the other side of the world - in Antarctica, where a great partnership is developing in the field of polar research.

The Bulgarian Ambassador also congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion of his birthday (Erdogan was born on February 26, 1954).

Turkiye's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that Turkiye maintains multilateral and deep relations with Bulgaria, which is its ally and friend. In his words, there is continuous communication and cooperation between Turkiye and Bulgaria in many important areas, including trade, security, energy, transport and tourism.

"With the new Government that was recently formed in Bulgaria, we hope to crown our dialogue with high-level visits in the next period," Tunc said. 

"We are pleased that our joint efforts on border security and the fight against illegal migration are bearing fruit. Our cooperation with Bulgaria, based on mutual trust and understanding, also contributes significantly to regional security and stability," Tunc pointed out.

"We are determined to continue our multilateral cooperation with Bulgaria in the coming period and are pleased to see that the Bulgarian authorities are applying the same approach. On behalf of the Turkish government and the Turkish people, I extend best wishes to the friendly Bulgarian people on the occasion of Bulgaria's national holiday," Minister Tunc concluded.

All guests at the reception received martenitsi [traditional Bulgarian adornment] on the occasion of the upcoming holiday - Baba Marta.