ABTTF and BTAYTD attended the 2nd session of the Forum on Minority Issues

The 2nd session of the Forum on Minority Issues with the thematic focus “minorities and effective political participation” took place on 12 and 13 November 2009 at the United Nations Office in Geneva. Representing the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, Melek Kirmaci, member of International Affairs and Lobbying Group of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) and Pervin Hayrullah, member of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (BTAYTD) attended the Forum. In addition, Abdülhalim Dede, owner of the daily Trakya’nın Sesi and radio Işık FM, and representative of the Turkish Minority Movement for Human and Minority Rights which is member of the Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages (EBLUL) attended the Forum as a special guest.

In relation to the problem of political participation of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, ABTTF and BTAYTD submitted a joint statement. Melek Kırmaci, member of ABTTF International Affairs and Lobbying Group, presented the joint statement and emphasized the issue of the electoral law in Greece, requiring any party or candidate to pass a 3 percent threshold across the country to enter the Parliament. Pointing out that as a consequence of the law, it had become almost impossible for the Turkish Minority to send deputies to the Parliament by dint of independent lists, Kırmaci also added that resulting from the 2240/1994 numbered law and the realisation of the expanded constituency application, the possibility of the Turkish Minority to be elected had faced negative impact.

Abdülhalim Dede, owner of the daily Trakya’nın Sesi and radio IŞIK FM, expressed as well the issue of the 3 percent threshold for independent candidates, the problem of the super-governor application resulting from the 2218/1994 numbered law as the issue of the expanded constituency application known as Kapodistra 1. Moreover, Dede proposed to perform representation according to the distribution of the population in provinces densely populated by the Minority, and to implement this application into national, local, and public service sectors. With regard to minorities, Dede advocated the establishment of a ministry on minorities or Ombudsman who have extended powers in the field of minority issues. In addition, he also claimed to guarantee the minorities´ right for freedom of expression and media, by providing state funds and assistance to minority media organizations.

On 13 November 2009, Counsellor Alexios Marios Lyberpoulos from the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations in Geneva expressed that two deputies were elected to the Parliamant at the early general elections held on 4 October 2009, and noted that the Minority was represented at national level. Furthermore, Lyberpoulos also emphasized that the Minority is represented at local level in the densely populated provinces of Rhodope and Xanthi, and noted that in 2008 a 0,5% quota was introduced with the aim of increasing the Minoritiy´s participation in public sector.

Following the speech of Abdülhalim Dede and the joint presentation of ABTTF and BTAYTD, Ambassador Yorgo Kaklikis, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations in Geneva, hold his speech and pointed out the importance of the 3 percent electoral threshold in terms of guaranteeing a functioning political system. With regard to the subject matter of Obudsman with extended powers in the field of minority issues, Kaklikis expressed that there had been no complaints in the reports of Ombudsman in Greece about the allegations of the representatives of the Minority and adding that freedom of expression and media was fully guaranteed and supported in Greece.