Mr. Countryman’s interview in a Greek daily caused discomfort in Greece.

• Thomas Countryman’s, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, statement as of "Greece persistently opposes the right of Western Thrace Turkish minority to define themselves as Turkish within the context of ethnic identity and this behaviour of Greece is illogical" caused discomfort in Greece.

• Teodoros Rusopulos, Greek government spokesman, made a press conference and stated that Greece was a democratic, modern country where human rights and legal equality were of uttermost important.

• Halit Habipoglu, chairman of ABTTF, revealed that any organization contaning "Turk" in its name were closed. Within the context of Greek government’s implementations, it would be an illusion to accept that Greek was a democratic, modern country where human rights and legal equality were of uttermost important.

Turkish Minority’s identity must be recognized

Halit Habipoglu made a press release about the above – mentioned statement of Thomas Countryman and said „Problems of Greek’s minority policy are yet drawing attenting of other countries. Greece ust recognize Turkish Minority’s identity.“

Halit Habipoglu continued as “Not recognizing the identity of minorities living in your country constitutes a human rights – contradictory situation. Our country, Greece, still feels discomfort with the usage of „Turk“ in the names of Turkish organizations in the public area and continues rejecting our Turkish identity within the context of the expression „Muslim Minority“ in the Lousanne Treaty. We permanently express our complaints, but Greek authorities do not take that into consideration. Meanwhile, it causes crisis between countries when other countries recognize the human rights violation imposed to Western Thrace Turkish minority.“

Cases of Xanthi Turkish Solidarity and Rodop Turkish Women Association are still in process at European Council of Human Rights

Halit Habipoglu called attention to the above – mentioned statement of Teodoros Rusopulos, Greek government spokesman, about Greek and he said „xanti Turkish Association, established in 1927, Komotini Turkish Youth Solidarity Association, established in 1928, Western Thrace Turkish Teachers Association, established in 1936, are closed officially due to „Turkish“ saying in their names since 1984. Rodop Turkish Women Association was founded in 2001 but could not get any foundation permit due to „Turkish“ saying in its name. Cases of Xanthi Turkish Solidarity and Rodop Turkish Women Association are still in process at European Council of Human Rights. In spite of all these examples, it would be an illusion to claim that Greece is a democratic and modern country.“

H e added that ABTTF’s membership of ECOSOC should be an example for Greece while a federation with a Turkish name could even become a member of a leading international organization. Meanwhile, Greece either closes or does not give foundation permits to the associations that have a Turkish saying in their names.