The World - News from Aug. 23, 1989

The Bulgarian government accused Turkey of playing “a dirty political game” with its decision requiring that ethnic Turks immigrating from Bulgaria first obtain visas. However, the semiofficial Turkish news agency Anatolia said 522 ethnic Turks were allowed to cross without visas. The refugees say they are fleeing a harsh assimilation campaign. The Turkish government announced its move Monday, saying it would require the visas because Bulgaria’s Communist leaders have refused to start talks on an accord to protect the emigrants. Turkish officials said the border will stay closed until Sofia signs an emigration pact with Ankara safeguarding the rights of ethnic Turks wanting to emigrate and of those staying behind.