ABTTF meets MEPs in the European Parliament

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) made an official visit to the European Parliament on 22 June 2011. ABTTF President Mr. Halit Habipoğlu and Mr. Ali Türkelli, a member of ABTTF’s International Affairs and Lobbying Group, discussed the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace with MEPs Edit Bauer (European People’s Party-Christian Democrats), Judith Sargentini and Hélène Flautre (Greens/EFA) along with Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova and Metin Kazak (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe).

ABTTF discussed the problems of the Turkish Minority in Greece with Bulgaria’s Turkish MEPs

Upon meeting with Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova and Metin Kazak, 2 of total 5 Turkish MEPs, Presi-dent Habipoğlu communicated the socio-economic and political problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. Hyusmenova and Kazak, firstly underlined the importance of diversity for the European Union and stated that within Europe’s multi-cultural structure the minorities have a cru-cial role to play in order to achieve ‘unification in diversity’. Both Hyusmenova and Kazak stated that ALDE is a friend of Turkey and the Turks, and that they are ready to support ABTTF.

Sargentini: Within the European Parliament, most people are not aware of the existence of a Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, however almost everyone knows the Greek minority in Istanbul

President Halit Habipoğlu at his meeting with Judith Sargentini expressed his hope for a friendly en-vironment as it was during Yorgo Papandreu and Ismail Cem’s terms as Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Habipoğlu also explained that a similar atmosphere in Turkey is to be achieved thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister R. Tayyip Erdoğan and the Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Da-vutoğlu. Habipoğlu reminded that during Minister Davutoğlu’s visit to Athens, the minister spoke with Greek Istanbuliots but unfortunately the Western Thrace Turks were not able to find any cor-respondence in Greece. Following Habipoğlu’s explanations MEP Sargentini revealed her amazement from what she had heard and stated that although almost everyone knew about the Greeks in Istanbul, most people were not even aware of the existence of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace.

President Habipoğlu: The autonomous structure in fields of education and religion has been usurped

MEP Hélène Flautre, Co-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, enquired to ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu about the first and foremost problem of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. Habipoğlu replied despite the fact that there are international and bi-lateral treaties between Greece and Turkey, the right for autonomy of the Western Thrace Turks in fields of education and religion has been usurped through a variety of applications.

Edit Bauer: Despite the Lisbon Treaty, there are still shortcomings on Minority Rights

During his meeting with MEP Edit Bauer, ABTTF President Habipoğlu illustrated their activities in order to provide solutions to the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. In this re-spect, Habipoğlu gave insights on their membership to the Inter-Group on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages via the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) and explained their efforts in order to make their voices heard. Bauer agreed that the Inter-Group is the best forum to discuss issues on minority rights, as there are still shortcomings in the field despite the Lisbon Treaty.