Turks from Bulgaria host 11th annual FUEN TAG meeting in Varna
Seventeen Turkish minority organizations from ten European countries gathered in Varna, Bulgaria, from May 29 to June 1 for the 11th Annual Meeting of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) Working Group of Turkic Minorities/Communities (TAG). This year’s meeting was hosted by the Turkish community of Bulgaria and organized by the Youth and Innovative Development Association.
Bringing together Turkic minorities from the Balkans to the Caucasus, the event featured representatives from Western Thrace Turks, Rhodes and Kos Turks, Ahıska Turks, Crimean Tatars, Kosovo Turks, Ukrainian Gagauz, North Macedonian Turks, Moldovan Gagauz, Turks from Bularia, and Turks from Rmania.
Deep Dive into the Realities of the Turks from Bulgaria
Led by FUEN TAG Spokesperson Halit Habip Oğlu, the delegation visited key historical and cultural landmarks on May 30, including the Sherif Halil Pasha Mosque (Tombul Mosque) in Shumen. The group was accompanied by the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Burgas, Tolga Orkun.
Following the visit, the delegation was received by Shumen Regional Mufti Mesut Mehmed, who provided insights into the religious and social activities of the local Muslim community.
The delegation also visited the 103-year-old Shumen Theological High School “Nüvvab,” where Principal Şerif Hüsnü presented the institution's historical background.
Dialogue and Solidarity in Shumen
The FUEN TAG delegation met with representatives of the Turkish community in Shumen during a regional meeting. Distinguished guests included Turkish Consul General Tolga Orkun and Mehmet Ungan, Social Affairs Attaché of the Burgas Consulate. In their opening remarks, Habip Oğlu, Consul General Orkun, and FUEN Vice President Nabi İbrahimcik addressed challenges facing Bulgarian Turks, especially in areas such as education, mother tongue instruction, cultural heritage preservation, and identity protection.
İbram Ahmed, a member of the Youth and Innovative Development Association and Secretary of the Barış Folk Culture House, gave a detailed presentation on Turkish cultural and artistic institutions in Bulgaria and the structural difficulties they face.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the museum house of the legendary Turkish wrestler Koca Yusuf in the village of Karalar, where Village Head İsmail Ebazer provided a briefing on Yusuf’s life and accomplishments.
Roadmap Set for 2025–2026
The FUEN TAG roundtable meeting was held on May 31 and opened by Habip Oğlu and İbrahimcik. Habip Oğlu outlined recent TAG activities, while İbrahimcik shared updates on FUEN’s broader initiatives.
Representatives from each participating community provided updates on the past year’s developments within their respective minority populations and highlighted ongoing challenges and organizational efforts.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the FUEN TAG 2025–2026 work plan and a jointly developed strategic roadmap, shaped by the input of all participating organizations.
To wrap up the event, the delegation joined a Varna city tour and dinner hosted by Member of the European Parliament İlhan Küçük. Turkish Consul General Tolga Orkun and Hüsnü Adem, a Varna MP from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), also attended the evening gathering.
