Head of supreme Islamic council in Bulgaria grateful to Turkey

As part of the sister municipalities program, Istanbul's Bagcilar Municipality established contact with Muslim Turks in Bulgaria. Bagcilar Mayor Lokman Cagrici, as well as Bagcilar District Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ismet Ozturk and an accompanying delegation, visited cities of Kircali, Filipe, Razgrat, Sumnu, Ruen and Burgaz which are predominantly resided by Muslim Turks and held contacts with mayor, non-governmental organizations and religious leaders. Speaking at Kırcali, Cagrici said, "We want to develop our relations with our Muslim cognates. We are ready to cooperate within the context of our experiences and knowledge." Stating that salaries of 600 imams in a total of 1,200 mosques in Bulgaria are paid by the office of the Chief Mufti, Head of the Supreme Islamic Council of Bulgaria Saban Ali Ahmet said that they survived with contributions made by Turkey's Department of Religious Affairs. "We are grateful to Turkey for extending aid to us," Ahmet added.