Bulgaria: Update to BGR22343.E of 29 November 1995 on whether ethnic Turks have difficulty obtaining external passports; on whether those who changed their Turkish names to Bulgarian ones are able to obtain their external passports in their Turkish names
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR22652.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Update to BGR22343.E of 29 November 1995 on whether ethnic Turks have difficulty obtaining external passports; on whether those who changed their Turkish names to Bulgarian ones are able to obtain their external passports in their Turkish names, 1 December 1995, BGR22652.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abef74.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A facsimile sent to the DIRB on 8 December 1995 by the chairperson of the board of directors of the International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations (IMIR) in Sofia stated the following:
As all Bulgarian citizens the ethnic Turks in Bulgaria can obtain external passports after paying the necessary tax. Obtaining an external passport is not a problem for them. ...
External passport in Bulgaria can be obtained no matter what is the ethnic origin of the respective Bulgarian citizen-the external passport can be obtained only with the name, written in the internal Bulgarian passport which is the name registered in all state institutions. ...
IMIR is a nongovernmental organisation concentrated on the following activities: Interdisciplinary research on minorities and intercultural relations in Bulgaria, Southeastern Europe and in the broader context of the East Mediterranean region; Education, training and development of cultural traditions of ethnic and religious groups towards tolerance and resolution of conflict situations; dissemination of information to public and state institutions on the integration of ethnic, cultural and religious communities.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations (IMIR), Sofia. 8 December 1995. Facsimile sent to the DIRB.