ABTTF at the European Parliament

Potential impacts of early parliamentary elections in Greece and their results on the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace discussed

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) paid a working visit to the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels. From 7 to 11 May 2012, Melek Kırmacı, Director of International Affairs of ABTTF, and Fatima Akkuş, member of the Department of International Affairs of ABTTF, met with the assistants of the MEPs in the EP and reported the major problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace in Greece.

During the meetings, the ABTTF delegation discussed the results of early parliamentary elections in Greece on 6 May 2012 and their potential impacts on the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace with the assistants of the MEPs and noted on 5 May 2012, on the night before elections, the Old Mosque in Komotini was attacked with a Molotov cocktail. In addition to the current issues and problems, the ABTTF delegation also mentioned the planned works before the EP for the protection of the rights and freedoms of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. Moreover, the ABTTF delegation discussed with the assistants of the MEPs how the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace can be brought even more on the agenda of the EP.