Bulgaria–Turkey relations

On this day in Plovdiv, the Unification of Bulgaria was announced, the dedication of Zahari Stoyanov was read, the flag of Eastern Rumelia was taken down and the Bulgarian flag was raised.

Turkey summoned the Bulgarian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry late on Nov. 18 over allegations that Turkey interfered in Bulgaria's presidential and parliamentary elections and internal affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting with the Ambassador of Turkey to Bulgaria Aylin Sekizkök.

It took place today between the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Sofia Aylin Sekizkyok, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Across Bulgaria, sirens will sound for two minutes at noon on 2 June 2021 in an annual custom honouring the memory of revolutionary, poet and rebel Hristo Botev, who died in 1876 in the struggle against Ottoman rule, as well as in tribute to all who died for the freedom of Bulgaria.

Turkey urged Bulgaria on March 09, not to restrict political rights of minorities and to comply with the "rule-based" European system, in reference to a recent law legislated by the Bulgarian parliament that restricts the number of ballot boxes to be established in Turkey to 35, according to Hürriyet Daily News.

Bulgarian lawmakers have backtracked on a blanket ban on opening polling stations outside of Bulgaria's diplomatic missions to other countries.

Under the new rules approved on Thursday afternoon, the restrictions will not be in force for the territory of the EU where there are embassies or consulates.

Turkey's English-language Hürriyet Daily News has published a piece quoting Turkish officials who praise Bulgaria-Turkey relations and bilateral exchange in tourism, culture, and even investment.

"While Turkey is experiencing problems with all of it neighbors, for now and God-willing, the springtime continues in the relations between us and our neighbor Bulgaria," the text begins.

The former Foreign Minister and future ambassador to Turkey Nadezhda Neynsky said that she is to seek new basis of bilateral relations and will champion the Bulgarian national interests.

Neynsky did not want to make concrete statements as she was still to hold many conversations before her departure to Turkey, she said in an interview for private bTV station on Friday.

Bulgaria will relax the process of issuing visas to Turkish citizens during winter months to give a boost to its tourism sector, the Tourism Ministry said on Tuesday.