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Working visit by ABTTF to Brussels

04.02.2020

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) paid a working visit to Brussels, the capital of the European Union (EU), on 4 February 2020. ABTTF President Halit Habip Oglu and ABTTF Vice-President Sami Yusuf were accompanied by Deniz Servantie from ABTTF Brussels Office. The ABTTF delegation had meetings with the members of the European Parliament (EP) including Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy) belonging to the German minority in Italy, Tatjana Ždanoka (Greens/EFA, Latvia) belonging to the Russian minority in Latvia as well as Loránt Vincze (EPP, Romania) belonging to the Hungarian minority in Romania and who is also President of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) at the same time. 

Current developments related to the Turkish community in Western Thrace were conveyed, and possibility of cooperation was discussed

During the meetings with the MEPs who are specialised in minority rights, the current problems of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and latest developments in the Western Thrace region were conveyed. As such, ABTTF President Habip Oğlu referred to continuing hate speech in Greece against the Turkish community in Western Thrace. Indeed, he indicated t in the remarks of some Greek politicians as well as in some news and comments, the Turkish community in Western Thrace is seen as the “other” and that it is continued to be portrayed as if it constituted a “threat” and “danger” for Greece. 

Underlining the fact that the educational and religious autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace which is enshrined within the framework of the relevant treaties is systematically being violated by the Greek authorities, Habip Oğlu stated the Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace are being closed down one by one with the pretext that there are not enough pupils attending these, adding the Greek government still does not recognise the muftis elected by Western Thrace Turks. 

Furthermore, also referring to the freedom of association of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and to the current problems in that regard, Habip Oğlu noted Greece is still falling short of implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) of  2008 with respect to the Western Thrace Turkish associations.

Moreover, during the meetings, it was also talked about the economic problems faced by the Turkish community in Western Thrace, and views regarding the 2020 activity calendar of the EP Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages as well as future cooperation were exchanged. 

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