Anadolu Agency: Bulgaria Hails Turkey's Fight Against Illegal Migration

 Anadolu Agency ahead of his scheduled visit to Istanbul on Sunday. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Saturday his country is grateful for Ankara's fight against illegal migration.

Borisov will visit Istanbul on Sunday to attend the reopening ceremony of the Sveti Stefan Church, also known as the Iron Church, along with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Restoration of the world's only surviving iron church began seven years ago in a project co-funded by both countries.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency ahead of his scheduled visit, Borisov said the reopening of the Bulgarian church had proven there can be friendship, mutual understanding, and goodwill between the Muslim and Christian countries.

Expressing his gratitude for Erdogan who initiated the restoration, Borisov said: "I think this [the renovation of the church] happened because of the mutual goodwill and common spirit that we are trying to build in the Balkans."

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality financed the restoration which cost 16 million Turkish liras ($4 million). The Bulgarian government contributed one million Turkish liras ($253,000) to the project.

On the basis of reciprocity principle, the Bulgarian government gave permission to restore the Friday (Cuma) Mosque in Plovdiv city while the Turkish government enabled the restoration of the Iron Church.

Bulgaria's EU presidency

As Bulgaria took over the rotating presidency of the European Union Council from Estonia on Monday for six months, Borisov said his country would focus on issues regarding the Balkan region. 

"Actually, holding the EU presidency does not mean ruling the EU. The Council of the EU takes major decisions by the...