UN General Assembly
1988

co-operation have always been a priority foreign policy objective of Turkey since the early days of our Republic. we are therefore determined to continue to play a constructive and dynamic role in order to contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of confidence among the Balkan countries. As we stressed in Belgrade, respect for human rights is a prerequisite for the emergence of such an atmosphere. With this understanding we have initiated a dialogue with Bulgaria. The Protocol that the two parties signed sets out the prerequisites and the mechanism for the normalization of Turkish-Bulgarian relations. Our relations are heavily affected by the situation of the Turkish Muslim minority in Bulgaria, a humanitarian question also involving contractual obligations. Both Turkish and world public opinion await a prompt and satisfactory solution to this problem. The ongoing process has not yet brought about any concrete results. Improved prospects for the Turkish Muslim minority will certainly lead to a new era of friendly and co-operative relations between the two countries. We continue to hope that