Photo: www.dps.bg

Istanbul, June 5 (BTA special by Nahide Deniz) - "Turks in
Bulgaria are a cement which holds together relations between
Bulgaria and Turkey. We are developing very good bilateral
relation with Bulgaria with which we have historical and
geographical ties," said Justice and Development Party deputy
chairman Numan Kurtulmus meeting with a delegation of the
Movement for Rights and Freedoms, led by leader Mustafa
Karadayi, in Ankara on Friday.

During the talks Kurtulmus underscored that he saw the MRF's
visit as an important step in the establishment of good dialogue
 for the development of bilateral relations and also in the
Balkan region.

Special attention was paid to the upcoming general elections on
July 11.

Kurtulmus assured the delegation that Turkey will put in place
all conditions so that voters living in Turkey who hold
Bulgarian citizenship can exercise their right to voting in the
polling section on the territory of Turkey.

"The existence of the Bulgarian Turks and the continuation of
the mutual dialogue with them is of benefit both to Turkey and
to them. We don't see Turkey as consisting only of Turkey. What
we call the wealth of our nation are not only the 84 million
citizens of the Republic of Turkey," said Kurtulmus, expressing
hope for even greater success of the MRF in the July 11
elections.

"We always stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers who are
a bridge of friendship and cooperation between Turkey and
Bulgaria,"  tweeted Turkish Foreign Minster Mevlut Cavusoglu on
the occasion of his meeting with the MRF delegation.

The Bulgarian guests met with the leader of the main opposition
Republican People's Party Kemal Kilicdaroglu and senior
representatives including MP Yuksel Ozkan, who is an emigrant
from Bulgaria. The sides discussed issues related to boosting
cooperation.

The MRF delegation includes deputy chairman Ahmed Ahmedov and
MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk.

According to information of the Anadolu Agency the guests from
Bulgaria visited the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. The
Agency quotes Karadayi, as saying that the delegation is
expected to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in
Istanbul. NV/PP

Source: Istanbul