Ankara worried over referendum on Turkish news bullenins in Bulgaria

The Foreign Ministry is following "closely and very carefully" the push in Bulgaria for a referendum over 10-minute news broadcasts in Turkish on national TV, the ministry said Wednesday. Earlier this week Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared himself in favor of the motion by his partners from the ultra-nationalist party National Union Attack, or Ataka, to hold a referendum over the daily broadcasts. "We expect the Bulgarian government to show the necessary efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue within the framework of pluralist democratic principles, and fundamental rights and freedoms," said the ministry." In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned Borisov to express concern over the situation. "The rising anti-Turkish rhetoric led by certain extremist circles recently in Bulgaria and the form it has taken as actual harassment cause concern in Turkey," Erdogan reportedly told his counterpart. Erdogan said he places the utmost importance on Turkish-Bulgarian relations, adding that Turkey is working hard to improve bilateral ties. Erdogan said it was sad to see efforts to roll back certain rights which Turks have acquired over the years, including the push against the news broadcast. "I am positive that as the ruling party you will take an all-encompassing attitude and contain such inciting activities," Erdogan said. For his part, Borisov reportedly said that the country's Turkish minority presents an opportunity to improve relations between Turkey and Bulgaria. "We are in full accord with you to make further progress in improving the situation of the Turkish minority's rights and freedoms," he said. "I will do everything in my power concerning the Turkish news broadcasts."