QA-20, 1 April 2019, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy, in Response to a Question Regarding the Statements Attributed to Minister Çavuşoğlu in the Context of Law of Religious Denominations in Bulgaria

We have very close and good relations with Bulgaria. Our kinsmen in Bulgaria enrich our relations. As neighbors, friends and allies, Turkey and Bulgaria pay attention to the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs of each other.

On the other hand it is only natural that, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries have a constructive and friendly dialogue and consultation with each other on many issues. In this context, it is observed that the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey in a recent speech in which he referred to an earlier phone conversation with the Bulgarian Foreign Minister on the amendments to the Law on Religious Denominations passed in Bulgarian Parliament and on international norms, were misinterpreted and distorted in the Bulgarian press by mistranslation. It is considered that some ill-intentioned circles resorted to this approach with a view to damaging the Turkish-Bulgarian friendship. However, our friendship with Bulgaria, which rests on solid foundations, will not be damaged by such actions.