SOFIA, Jan 30 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's two-day official visit to Bulgaria started.
Prime Minister Ecevit, his wife Rahsan Ecevit, Transportation Minister Oktay Vural and Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan arrived at Sofia's Airport on Wednesday.
Ecevit and accompanying delegation were welcomed at the airport by Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development and Public Works Minister Kostadin Paskalev, Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Haydar Berk and Turkish Embassy in Sofia officials.
Ecevit will lay a wreath to the Unknown Soldier Memorial in the Aleksandir Nevski square.
Ecevit who will meet with his Bulgarian counterpart Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha will later meet with Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Ognian Gercikov and be received by Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov.
Latest situation of relations between Turkey and Bulgaria will be taken up and problems especially about visa procedures, social rights of Bulgarian citizens living in Turkey and Gorna Arda project will be evaluated during Ecevit's contacts in Bulgaria.
On Thursday, Ecevit will meet officials of the Rights and Freedoms Movement (HOH) and get information about problems of Turks living in Bulgaria.
PM BULENT ECEVIT MEETS WITH BULGARIAN PM SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Bulgarian Prime Minister and former King of Bulgaria Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha have laid a wreath on Unknown Soldier Memorial in the Aleksandir Nevski square in Sofia.
Ecevit and Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha held a meeting in the Prime Ministry on Wednesday.
Ecevit and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha took up the latest condition of the relations between the two countries, the latest development in the region and the agreement, which is expected to sign on Thursday, related with clearing the land mines from the border regions.
ECEVIT: ''PERFECT RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES ARE IMPORTANT ALSO FOR THE REGION''
Ecevit held a joint press conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha with whom he had held a meeting within framework of his contacts in Sofia.
Noting that neighborly relations between Turkey and Bulgaria had reached an extraordinary level in recent years, Ecevit said that this was very valuable not only for the two countries but also for the region.
Stating that they would be pleased with seeing the Bulgarian Prime Minister in Turkey in the shortest time frame, Ecevit said that Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and he had exchanged the documents on ratification of the agreement on ''avoidance from planting anti-personnel land mines and sweeping of existing land mines'' which had been signed on March 22, 1999.
Stressing that the last phase necessary for implementation of the agreement had been fulfilled with exchange of those documents, Ecevit said, ''this agreement shows the high level of relations reached between Turkey and Bulgaria.''
Noting that his meeting with Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was comprehensive and beneficial, Ecevit said that he would meet the same day with also Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov and the Bulgarian Deputy Parliament Speaker.
ECEVIT:''TURKEY WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO WIPE TERRORISM OFF THE MAP''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that Turkey has been successfully fighting against terrorism for many years and that it would continue its efforst to wipe terrorism off the map.
Ecevit attended a dinner hosted by Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Sakskoburgotski to his honor on Wednesday night. At the dinner, Ecevit said that he has been watching Bulgaria's progress and reform process with appreciation in the recent years.
''Turkey which is going through an important stage towards joining the EU is observing Bulgaria's similar activities with great attention. Turkey's and Bulgaria's participation in the EU will fill a void in the EU and will make the Union richer in many ways,'' Ecevit said.
Ecevit also said that Turkish kinsmen in Bulgaria formed a very strong bond between the two countries.
Ecevit underlined that Turkish-Bulgarian relations was important to maintain peace and stability in the Balkans which often witnesses serious conflicts and added that Turkey wanted to advance relations with this country in every field.
ECEVIT MEETS WITH BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PIRVANOV AND ACTING PARLIAMENT SPEAKER KASAPOVA
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had a meeting with Bulgarian President Georgi Pirvanov and Acting Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Kameliya Kasapova on Wednesday evening.
During his meeting with Kasapova, Ecevit discussed the latest state of relations between Turkish and Bulgarian parliaments and expressed satisfaction about the level of these relations.
Latest state of Turkish-Bulgarian relations, developments in hte region were topics during Ecevit-Pirvanov meeting.
On Thursday, Ecevit will meet with the executives of Rights and Freedoms Movement party which is mostly formed by Turkish members and he will listen to the problems of Turks who live in Bulgaria.
Ecevit will deliver a speech at a conference organized by Bulgarian Atlantic Club at Sheraton Hotel before he leaves Sofia.
SAKSKOBURGOTSKI:''BULGARIA HAS ITS DOORS WIDE OPEN FOR TURKISH BUSINESSMEN''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkish-Bulgarian relations were developing in all fields, during a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Simeon Sakskoburgotski on Wednesday.
Responding to a question about the Upper Arda Project, Ecevit said there were certain legal problems regarding the project and these problems had to be overcome in the shortest time possible.
Ecevit said that Turkey and Bulgaria managed to maintain good relations even during the time when they had different political regimes.
Ecevit said he was very pleased about the Turkish investments in Bulgaria and added that these investments were creating jobs for many Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin who complain about not being able to find jobs.
Sakskoburgotski said his country had its doors wide open for the Turkish capital and he assured that the Bulgarian government would do its best to help Turkish businessmen who are interested in making investments in his country.
The Bulgarian prime minister also helped Ecevit for Turkey's support to Bulgaria's NATO membership.
Sakskoburgotski also told reporters that he was in full agreement with Ecevit regarding opening a new border gate and building new railraods between Turkey and Bulgaria.