Bulgaria’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs called the statement of her Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on the Religious Denominations Act absolutely unacceptable for the bilateral relations of the two countries. Minister Zaharieva said that she spoke with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on the phone at his request where he voiced concerns that the Religious Denominations Act was against the Muslim religion. Minister Zahareiva replied that this act was not directed against any religion and the Bulgarian National Assembly had the right to take care of the financing of all religions in Bulgaria, so they can receive equal treatment.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Turkey’s Ambassador to Sofia for discussions, Ekaterina Zaharieva added and underlined that Bulgaria has never succumbed to external pressure. Ambassador Hasan Ulusoy was told that it is a priority for Bulgaria’s foreign policy to maintain a dialogue with its neighbours in mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. Ambassador Ulusoy explained that Minister Çavuşoğlu’s words had been taken out of context and misrepresented. The Turkish diplomat assured the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Turkish side had no intention of insulting Bulgaria or of exerting pressure on the legislative process.