Bulgarian Turkish Emigration and Return

PREPARED BY: EMIL KAYA

In

our attempt to examine the matter of the 1989 Turkish emigration and return, the following questions needed to be answered:

1)What are the main factors which determined the massive character of the migration? 2)Does this particular case of migration have a specific pattern and what makes it differ from the previous cases?

3) What has caused the return of almost half of the emigrants within a few months? 4) What are the problems and difficulties faced by those who decided to return?

MAIN FACTORS
The

Communist Regime in Bulgaria has used to the ethnic conflict. The intensity of nationalist propaganda.

The

nterference of foreign powers to solve the ethnic problems. Human violations. Religion: Conflicts between Muslims anad Christians.

TURKEYS APPROACH

Brothers in blood

and faith The Turkish Government under Turgut zal opened the borders to migrants.

Within

a few months a wave of 369,839 people fled to the Turkish Border

WHY DID IMMIGRANTS RETURN TO BULGARIA?

In the period of 1989-1990, the total number of immigrants that returned to Bulgaria is 133 272 because of feeling despondent after facing unemployment and a lack of opportunities.

Adaptation problems and lack of opportunities Other reasons

ADAPTATION AND PROBLEMS:

Adaptation depends on:

Age Professional skills Education Cultural level Social capital

The Bulgatian immigrants that have relatives or close friends in Turkey adapted to easier. However some of the immigrtants faced hardships and problems. Thats why they wanted to return to Bulgaria.

BULGARAN TURKS WERE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE OF : Work conditions and unemployment Education Health House problems / camp sites Prejudice against them They are called muhacir or gmen

Work Conditions:
They

receive less money than the denizen Turks for the same job. Employers offered only unskilled part-time or dirty work.

Education: Health:

House Problems: Prejudice agains them

Young people prefer to come back to pursue their higher education or perform military service in Bulgaria because there was a general fear of doing military services in Kurtinhabited regions.

In 22nd August 1989, Turkish government closed the borders with Bulgaria and has started application of visa.

CONCLUSION:
damaged dramatically Bulgarian economy. One of the most important results of 1989migration is that although Bulgarian government denied presence of Turks, after 1989, government had got to admit the presence of Turks. The need of minority rights emerged and this migration proved the minority problems and caused government to revise and examine the approach to minorities.

Another important result of migration is the loss and weaken of presence of Turks in Balkans.