Today, 11 January 2023, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria Ivan Geshev held meetings with Mehmet Akarca – First President of the Court of Cassation of the Republic of Türkiye and with Turkish Prosecutor General Bekir Şahin
In the course of the conversation between Ivan Geshev and Mehmet Akarca, held in the Supreme Court in Ankara, both reaffirmed the common commitment of their countries to guarantee justice and protect citizens’ rights as well as to protect the borders of Euro-Atlantik area.
“Each problem can be solved and each goal can be achieved, as long as there is dialogue and shared values”, stated the First President of the Court of Cassation Mehmet Akarca.
During the meeting the common position was stated that strategic partnership between judicial authorities of the two neighboring countries should be continued and built up.
Bulgarian Prosecutor General welcomed the candidate - judges and - prosecutors who are currently undergoing training at the Supreme Court building. Ivan Geshev congratulated the future magistrates, emphasizing the importance of their chosen profession they have chosen.
During their bilateral meeting the Prosecutors General of Bulgaria and Türkiye Ivan Geshev and Bekir Sahin highlighted the necessity of deepening the partnership to counter the illegal migration and terrorism. Both leaders stressed on strengthening the actions to cut off the channels of migrant trafficking and prosecution of the organisers of this type of criminal activity. Other criminal law issues were also discussed, as well as ways to optimize joint work between institutions. “Cooperation between Bulgarian and Turkish Prosecutor’s Offices has achieved good results in upholding the rule of law”, noted Ivan Geshev to his Turkish colleague.
Before the President of the Turkish Supreme Court and the Turkish Prosecutor General, the Bulgarian Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev emphasized the outcomes achieved concerning the counteraction of terrorism, cross-border crime and cutting off the channels of illegal migration.
Tsvetomir Yosifov, Head of the International Department at the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor's Office, also took part in the talks.
During the visit to the Republic of Turkey, the Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev will also hold meetings with the Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdag and the Minister of Internal Affairs Süleyman Soylu.