PM BORISSOV TO DISCUSS SCHENGEN ISSUES WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART ERDOGAN

On of the most important issues on the agenda of the talks between Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov and his Turkish counterpart Recep Erdogan is the joining of Bulgaria to the Schengen zone. After Bulgaria enters in Schengen, the border between Bulgaria and Turkey would become a EU outer border and all details on Bulgaria's new responsibilities should be specified. Interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov will take part in the discussions, too.
However, the accent of Borissov's official visit is to unblock the work of the joint commission, dealing with the pending questions of the bilateral relations, diplomats explained. According to experts on the bilateral relations of the two neighbouring countries, the state visit is a political act that should stimulate the solving of the problems. During the talks would be raised the question about the properties of Thracian refugees.
The controversial issues in the relations of the two countries have nothing to do with Turkey's candidacy for EU, Bulgarian MEPs are positive.

Energy Projects such as gas pipeline Nabucco and Gorna Arda will be discussed in details in the joint Bulgarian - Turkish commission after it resumes its work, as the commission has no sitting since May 2009.

On the first day of his visit to Ankara PM Borissov will have meetings with Turkish PM Recep Erdogan and with president Abdullah Gul. On the next day PM Borissov will leave for Istanbul, where he will have a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and with the board of trustees of the Orthodox Church of Bulgarian Exarchate Foundation