Press releases

19 April 2008, STATEMENT OF THE SPOKESMAN OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TURKEY IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION (Unofficial Translation)

We regret the incident in which our citizen Yalçýn Ercan lost his life as a result of the action of the Bulgarian Coast Guard against the Turkish boat „Ömer Reis 2“ fishing in the waters off the coast of Mutludere on 17 April 2008.

Along with demarches by our Embassy in Sofia and by our Consulate General in Bourgas, the Bulgarian Ambassador in Ankara was invited to the Foreign Ministry and an explanation of the regrettable incident was requested.

It is not possible to accept such action against fishermen on the ground of unlawful fishing. Legal rights involved in this case are reserved.
Our expectation from the Bulgarian authorities is to conclude the investigation in the shortest time and to inform us of the result.

The remains of our citizen Yalçýn Ercan was recieved at the border yesterday by officials of the Kýrklareli Governate and delivered to his family.
We express our deepest condolences and symphaties to the family of the deceased.

Republic of Turkey - Ministry of Foreign Affairs