ABTTF attended the second annual meeting of FUEN TAG

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) participated from 9 to 12 November 2014 in Baku, Azerbaijan in the second annual meeting of the Working Group of Turkic Minorities (TAG) under the umbrella of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN). While ABTTF President Halit Habip Oglu as FUEN Vice-President attended the meeting hosted by the FUEN member organisation Association of Meskhetian Turks “VATAN” in Azerbaijan, Vice-President Sami Yusuf represented ABTTF during the meeting.

Representatives of Turkic minorities from six different countries in Europe participated in the meeting

The meeting, which brought together the representatives of the umbrella organisations of Turkic minorities from six different countries in Europe, was attended by, alongside ABTTF from Germany, the Friendship, Equality and Peace (DEB) Party and the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (BTAYTD) representing the Turkish minority of Western Thrace in Greece, the Rhodes, Kos and the Dodecanese Turks Culture and Solidarity Association from Turkey, the International Society of Meshketian Turks “VATAN” and the Social Organisation for Fostering and Development of the Karachay-Balkar Traditions “Bars El” from Russia, the Association of Meskhetian Turks “VATAN” from Azerbaijan as well as the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and the Association of Crimean Karaites ”Krymkarailar” from Ukraine. The Kumyk Association representing the Kumyk Turks, which is not a FUEN member organisation yet, also participated in the meeting

On the first day of the meeting, a total of fifteen participants visited the historical and cultural places in Baku. The delegation first visited the graveyard called Fahri Hıyaban where the Former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and other important figures, who served the Azerbaijani people and state, lie and placed a wreath on Aliyev’s mausoleum. The delegation later on visited the martydom called Şehitler Hıyabanı where Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers killed during the battle of Baku in 1918 have been buried. The delegation also met with the Counsellor for Religious Services of the Embassy of Turkey in Baku Prof. Dr. Kamil Güneş and visited in the afternoon the Palace of the Shirvanshahs.

Participants met with the Minister for InterNations, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs before President Kamal Abdullayev

At the end of the first day of the meeting, the delegation met with Kamal Abdullayev, Minister for InterNations, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs before President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the meeting, FUEN Vice-President Habip Oğlu presented the Minister FUEN and the Working Group of Turkic Minorities (TAG). Habip Oğlu provided Abdullayev with information on the Turkic minorities that are TAG members and asked for the support of Azerbaijan for the repatriation of Meskhetian Turks to their homeland Georgia.

FUEN TAG members decided on the common strategy for 2016

During the second roundtable meeting of FUEN TAG on 11 November 2015, FUEN Vice-President Habip Oğlu presented the FUEN TAG activities carried out in the last year. Then, the participants expressed the latest developments related to their minorities.

Afterwards, the Chairman of the Kumyk Association Ramazan Alpaut, who participated for the first time in a FUEN TAG annual meeting, made a presentation on the Kumyk Turks who today mostly live in Dagestan. Following the presentation by the Chairman of the host organisation Association of Meskhetian Turks “VATAN” in Azerbaijan İbrahim Ziyaoğlu on the problem of repatriation of Meskhetian Turks to Georgia and their demands concerning the issue, Alpaut made a second presentation on the Turkic minorities and communities living in Russia.

During the second part of the roundtable meeting, ABTTF International Affairs Director Melek Kırmacı Arık expressed the works carried out by FUEN at international platforms for the Turkic minorities/communities as well as potential activities before international organizations. After the expectations of TAG member organisations from FUEN and potential cooperation options had been evaluated, proposals for strengthening collaboration among FUEN TAG members were discussed and accordingly, the common strategy for 2016 was decided on.