Bulgaria will help Turkey on its way of joining the European Union (EU), Parliamentary Speaker Ognayn Gerdzhikov assured visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Taiyp Erdogan on their Wednedsay meeting.

Prof Gerdzhikov pledged that Bulgaria would lobby for the start of EU entry talks between Turkey and the Union.

Turkey's EU aspirations are among the priorities of Dutch Presidency agenda. The EU decision over start of entry talks with Turkey will be "fair, transparent and sustainable".

The two officials also agreed the border control between Bulgaria and Turkey shouldn't be so strict, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Taiyp Erdogan and Prof Gerdzhikov agreed.

They also noticed a considerable growth in the trade balance between the two countries hailing the fact that Bulgaria and Turkey enjoy excellent economic relations.

Later in the day Erdogan met Ahmed Dogan, leader of Bulgaria's predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms. They discussed the challenges Bulgaria faces following its NATO entry and having in mind its future EU entry.

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