Prof. Hasan Yılmaz: Turkey and Bulgaria have history and friendship which create cultural bridges between them

 “Turkey and Bulgaria are two countries that are connected by historical, geographical and cultural links. And since they are neighbors the two countries constantly interact and cooperate. And as the Bosphorus is one strait between Marmara Sea and Black Sea which blend into one another in the same way there are cultural bridges between Turkey and Bulgaria which the history and the friendship created”, said Prof. Hasan Kamil Yılmaz, Vice President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey (known as “Diyanet”) during the regular National Muslim Conference on 24^th of January this year in Sofia.

He said that he feels his duty to mention the fact that in 1950 when in Turkey were established the religious institutions for education, secondary schools and faculties some of the teachers were clergymen, teachers who graduated “Madrasat-ul-Nuvvab” in Shumen and went to Turkey.

“The Bulgarian nation and the Muslims in Bulgaria during the recent years experienced difficulties. In 1989 – 91 began the democracy, Bulgaria became a member of the European Union and NATO, so we became even closer, I hope that in the process of the integration in the European Union the situation of Bulgaria will become better”, further said the Vice President of the “Diyanet”.

According to him during the recent years the Islamic world has suffered many difficulties from phenomena such as “Al-Qaeda”, DAESH, terrorist groups that contributed for the expansion of the Islamophobic wave in Europe and America.

“I think that we should not keep silent about the fact that these organizations are created by external forces and it should not be suppressed because this affects us. Because in the Holy Book the Almighty says that the Muslim must neither use violence, nor to be so weak as to be subjected to violence. I think that we should take a position”, said Prof. Hasan Yılmaz. He greeted the delegates and wished success to the Conference.

On behalf of the Muslim community in Romania and the Muslim clerics from the Balkan countries a speech was delivered also by the Grand Mufti of Romania Murat Yusuf. He greeted the delegates and stressed that he highly appreciate the good relations between the two institutions and hopes to continue the joint projects.