Bulgarian Minister without Portfolio Bozhidar Dimitrov, engaged in Bulgarians’ issues abroad claimed over $20bn compensation from Turkey last December. According to him, it is a compensation for deportation of Bulgarians in Ottoman Empire. Otherwise, he threatened that Bulgaria will veto Turkey’s membership to EU, The California Courier publisher Harut Sassounian emphasized.

According to him, “Turkish Republic established in 1923 claimed responsibility for Ottoman Empire actions. Thus, under the agreement signed in 1925 Turkey undertook to pay compensation to Bulgaria. Nevertheless, so far Bulgaria got not a singe penny.”

Sassounian quotes Dimitrov as saying, “Turkey is definitely capable of paying over this amount being meanwhile one of the major economic powers. In addition, it is one of three reasons why Bulgaria opposes Turkey’s joining EU, two others relate to energy issues and Bulgaria’s territorial waters.”

Turkey’s response was not slow to arrive having its Foreign Minister voice same as in case with Armenian Genocide – Turks suffered during the World War I just as other nations did.

The publisher reckons that Armenians should claim the compensation as well. “No reconciliation without reparations!” he said, underlining that France, Germany, Austria and Netherlands, Greece and Cyprus thumbs down on Turkey’s membership to EU. Turkey should have open borders with neighbors, thus, regardless any developments in Protocols’ ratification, it will not succeed in joining EU, Sassounian considers.

A.G.