Co-operation between Bulgaria and Turkey will bring prosperity to their people
28 June 2012 News
“Bulgaria and Turkey share deep concern at the developments in the Middle East. We are continuing to work with our partners in the EU and the region to find a way out for the situation in Syria. There has to be not only an end to the violence, but also the start of a political transition that would allow the Syrian people to set out on the path of democratic development.” This was said by Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov at a joint news conference with Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bağış, who is on a visit to Sofia.
Minister Mladenov again expressed the condolences of the Bulgarian Government for the recent incidents in Turkey. He said that Turkey was behaving in an extremely restrained and prudent way after the downing of a Turkish aircraft in international airspace by the Syrian air force.
The two ministers discussed a variety of bilateral matters as well as prospects for the relations between the EU and Turkey. They were unanimous that there were a number of joint projects that Bulgaria and Turkey could implement, in energy, customs control, the establishment of joint patrols and in combating illegal migration.
Minister Bağış expressed his gratitude for the Bulgarian Government’s decision to grant visa exemptions to Turkish citizens.
Minister Mladenov underlined Bulgaria’s full support for the process of reforms that Turkey must make on its way to the EU. In turn, Minister Bağış said, “we are grateful to Bulgaria as an EU member state that is helping towards Turkey’s EU accession. Bulgaria is one of our best friends, voicing its support in the strongest way”.
“Our good co-operation should lead to more trade, investment and to prosperity for our peoples,” Minister Mladenov said.
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