Erdogan Addresses Greek Citizens Of Turkish Origin

KOMOTINI - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who addressed Greek citizens of Turkish origin on Saturday, said, ''undoubtedly, nobody has the power to take your identity from you. The important thing is that this society should continue its living within the own laws and rules of Greece without being assimilated.''

Erdogan, who met with Western Thrace Turkish Consultative Board members in Komotini Consulate General, stated that Turks living there were citizens of Greece.

Erdogan said, ''is it possible to scrape you existence? It is impossible. The same thing is valid for Turkish people living in Germany. We have 2.5 million people living there. 650 thousand of them became German citizens. They should live there abiding by the rules and laws of that country.''

Erdogan said, ''you are not refugee here. You were born here. I should say that the future will be built on strong basis. We should no more talk about the past, but talk about and plan the future.'' He said both nations to let the events of the past remain in the past and turn to the future.

Erdogan said they would pursue a different strategy to further improve mutual good will and understanding, stating that, ''we will discuss everything. We will open the doors. You should not feel concern over this. All that is needed is you should act in unity and integrity. You should not be outside policy here. Other problems will be overcome in time.''

''Do not disregard the conditions of the country you are living in. The two countries from now on want problems to be overcome and make Aegean a sea of peace. We will act in good will to overcome the problems. We did this in Cyprus and we will do it here. Today, there is a different world. Next generations will consider those incidents from a different point of view,'' Erdogan noted.

Prime Minister Erdogan later visited Macedonia-Thrace Region Secretariat General.

Mentioning minority issue, Erdogan said it would be beneficial for the Western Thrace Turks to evaluate the issues positively and work for Greece.

''I am telling my brothers living in Western Thrace that they are citizens of Greece, and so members of the European Union (EU). They should work for a strong Greece as a strong Greece will also be their happiness. There may be problems but they will be solved in time,'' Erdogan stated.

Erdogan said his government was trying to strengthen relations with all its neighbors since they came to ruling, and called on the walls to be demolished.
v (AY) 09.05.2004
Anadolu Agency