Law on compensations for Thracian Bulgarians discussed by the Parliament

With 81 votes 'for' and only 10 'against', the Parliament postponed for today the debates on the unsettled financial and social issues of the Thracian Bulgarians. The proposal was made by the parliamentary group of Ataka party. The draft stipulates that "the National Assembly should assign to the Government the settlement of Turkey's debt to Thracian and Asia Minor Bulgarians, using all possibilities and tools at its disposal".

This debt ensues from the Angora Treaty of 1925 under which Turkey is obliged to pay compensations to Bulgarian refugees from Eastern Thrace and Asia Minor. The descendants of refugees are estimated at around 800,000.

"A constructive attitude can be observed in the plenary hall. The objections of MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) are procedural and not essential," said Pavel Shopov, MP from Ataka. He reminded that the draft aimed at achieving a maximum consensus and support because this would give more weight to the decision. That is why the authors of the draft demanded postponement of the debates.

A day earlier the discussion was again postponed upon a proposal of Ataka. Yesterday morning, their draft was refined after a meeting in Parliament between Ataka's leader Volen Siderov and Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov. Then, Mladenov appealed to the MPs to show full support in order to give the Government more strenght to protect the interests of all Bulgarian citizens.

"What Ataka did by updating the draft decision and complying it with the realities and our relations with Turkey is extremely positive. Therefore, I am appealing to the National Assembly to approve this decision because it is in the interest of Bulgaria and all Bulgarians," said Foreign Minister Mladenov.

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