EU-Turkey update

Bulgarian Minister Admits Faux Pas over Turkey EU Bid

Diplomacy
The Bulgarian official, who caused an uproar after threatening to block Turkey's application to join the European Union unless it pays out billions of euros in compensation for displaced people, has repented over his rash step.
“I have made a faux pas. The prime minister is right, it is my gaff, not his,” Bozhidar Dimitrov, a Bulgarian cabinet minister without portfolio who runs the country's Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, said on Thursday.
According to Dimitrov he has gotten wrong a report of the European Commission on Turkey's progress, which has recommended that the country sticks to its commitments.
“Obviously this has been just a recommendation, not a condition for EU membership,” Dimitrov added.
A day earlier Prime Minister Boyko Borisov threatened to sack Dimitrov in an attempt to make good in the dispute over Turkey's EU accession, which has elicited a high-level rebuke from Turkey.
Bulgarian deputy foreign minister Marin Raykov also tried to ease tensions, saying that there is no threat of a veto and that Bulgaria backs all the decisions of the European Union, concerning the dialogue between Brussels and Ankara.
Bulgaria and Turkey concluded a deal in 1925 in which they agreed the value of the lost land and property, but the compensation has never been paid. In 1983 the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry claimed that the assets left behind by the expelled Bulgarians were worth USD 10 B.
Minister Bozhidar Dimitrov however had said that considering the years of foot-dragging Sofia is within its rights to demand at least twice as much money.
Turkey began accession talks with the EU in 2005 but progress has been slow, with just 12 out of 35 negotiation chapters opened so far.

Uncles Comment: This is a PR disaster the European press has had a field day with this.