Calls for Granting Turks Status of Ethnic Minority in Bulgaria

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Subject: Calls for Granting Turks Status of Ethnic Minority in Bulgaria

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Calls for Granting Turks Status of Ethnic Minority in
Bulgaria


Commentary Views 
Calls for Granting Turks Status of Ethnic Minority in Bulgaria
 
19 Jul 2001
Sofia 24 Chasa
Subslug: Commentary by Ilhan Anday: "Tie Up Lutfis To Keep Country
Safe"
 
Reference:
1.  eup20010717000319 sofia khristo botev radio bulgarian 1600 gmt 17
jul 01
[FBIS Translated Text]     

Two men among the leaders of the DPS {Movement for Rights and
Freedoms] whose names sound quite timidly, Unal Lutfi and Lutfi
Mestan, have suddenly made a move on the SND [Simeon II National
Movement] that is more commonly associated with some of the
strangleholds in World Wrestling Federation bouts.
 
In the midst of the coalition talks these two men suddenly asked the
new government to sponsor an amendment to the Constitution that would
make Bulgaria a "multiethnic state."
 
"Do we not have minorities? What am I and the other one million
Turks?" Unal Lutfi asked.  He then went on to correct himself saying
that he was not talking about the Constitution, but about a
"multiethnic democracy."
 
The correction came a bit too late, however. He had already awakened
the ugly suspicion that the DPS wants to negotiate this amendment as
part of a coalition deal.
 
The SDS [Union of Democratic Forces] rose in anger right away and
pointed to the ghost of the battles in Macedonia.  The party knows
well that it can undermine support for Simeon II if it can play its
nationalist card well enough.
 
There are two explanations for the Lutfis' surprising move:
 
1.   They might be speaking their minds.
 
If this is indeed the case, Dogan must prohibit them to read thick
books in the middle of the night and to try to express in words the
hopes and theories of their leader.
 
2.   The DPS might be testing the ground.
 
This appears to be likely from the way the idea was put forward and
was then quickly withdrawn.
 
Whatever the truth, it has been demonstrated that the time has not
come yet to discuss this problem.
 
Let us assume that Mehmet from Kurdzhali gets some new and special
status.  His neighbor Mitko will see in this the ominous images of
Milosevic and Karadzic, of Hashim Thaci.  He will also be reminded of
some very gruesome pictures.
 
It would not be surprising if the prime minister-designate is now
having second thoughts about what might be seen as his entering into a
partnership with the devil.
 
When some seven years ago Mehmed Hodja first mentioned that Turks,
Gypsies, Pomaks, Jews, and Armenians, should be granted minority
status Dogan reprimanded him saying that he knew nothing about these
things and that the time was not right for such demands. He then sent
the idea's author into the garbage bin of politics.
 
Two years had not passed before the Falcon {Dogan] himself made public
the desire for minority status.  His subordinates then gave vent to
their fantasies which soon prompted Dogan to ban them from publicly
discussing their own free interpretations of the issue.
 
The two Lutfis, however, appear to have forgotten Dogan's revelation
that no one has so far provided a definition of what "minority" means
(he even promised a reward to anyone who came up with the right
wording).
 
The multiethnic state is one other theory Dogan put forward at the
last conference. He has not, however, asked for an amendment to the
Constitution, one that the Lutfis are calling for. Minority status can
bring many benefits, but certainly not the investments the ethnically
mixed areas need most.
 
>From a theoretical point of view, the "multiethnic" definition simply
confirms the integrity of the one-nation state if the Constitution is
read carefully. It would be a provocation, however, to ask for a
"multinational state."  Hungary, which has recognized the existence of
minorities on its territory, is quite far away from the troubled
Balkans. It also had its own 800 days [time Simeon says he needs to
turn country around] a long time ago.
 
The poor Bulgarian is afraid of making a first step that could
precipitate rapid lawmaking regarding minorities.
 
Sofia's ratification of the Framework Convention on Protection of
Minorities will compel our lawmakers to change their agenda. The
amendments will not be limited to guaranteeing radio and TV
broadcasts, freedom of religion, language and other similarly boring
benefits. Some 30 or 40 laws will need to be rewritten if Ahmed from
Kurdzhali is to really enjoy the benefits of his minority status and
the Framework Convention. He will not only be able to watch and read
the news about the "char" (Turkish does not have a letter for the
sound "ts") in his mother's tongue, which will also be the second
official language in his area, but will also read "bread" written in
Turkish in his local bakery. Rocko [suspected gangster] will be able
to defend himself in court in his mother's tongue too.  Some 60
percent of the senior local government posts in Kurdzhali will go to
Turks, Gypsies, and Pomaks. They will also serve in the police force,
the army, the investigation service, the prosecution service.
 
These are things that can send shivers down the spine of the poor
Bulgarian.
 
In fact, it was the political leaders of the past 12 years who created
a twisted image of the people of other faiths. Ivan Kostov never
learned the simple truth that there are other Turks in Bulgaria apart
from the tobacco producers, the agents of former State Security, and
the marionettes like Guner Tahir. Dogan's mistake was that he never
managed to win the affection of the Bulgarian people in all these
years.
 
The best way to describe the claim of the Lutfis that there are one
million Turks in Bulgaria is to call it complete nonsense. Turkey
calculated 18 months ago that the Turks who actually lived in Bulgaria
were too few to elect a parliamentary group in the next National
Assembly. Because of this Ankara sent 40,000 people to the polls in
the areas inhabited by expatriates and dispatched about as many to go
to vote in Bulgaria.
 
Dogan's new role as partner in the government requires of him to
forget about his favorite reincarnation, the one of the "Prophet of
the Balkans." He should then tell his people to be masters of their
own words.
 
[Description of Source: Sofia 24 Chasa in Bulgarian - privately owned,
sensationalist daily with a very high circulation; nationalist, but
not extremist; often critical of the government]

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