Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva has spoken to parliament on claims by her Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu that Ankara had exercised pressure on Sofia for adoption of amendments to the Religious Act. Bulgaria will not allow any intervention in domestic policy, Zaharieva said. This was clearly demonstrated by the response of Bulgarian authorities and postponing a previously planned visit by Çavuşoğlu to Sofia.

In a statement by Çavuşoğlu’s spokesman, as well as in an informal conversation with me, the Turkish Minister pointed out his words were mistakenly interpreted, which is a kind of excuse, Minister Zaharieva commented. I want to believe that such statements will not be heard in the future, so they do not affect bilateral relations, the minister added.