Dear Readers,
Due to the loss of a large number of votes at the European Parliament elections on May 26th, Alexis Tsipras moved the general elections scheduled to be held in October to an earlier time and as a result, for the first time our country went to the polls during the summer holiday.
As expected, the July 7th early general elections were won by the New Democracy Party (NEA). NEA leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who achieved the majority to form a government alone, became the country's prime minister and formed the government without losing time.
As Turkish community in Western Thrace, it is very glad to see two Turkish MPs elected in Xanthi after many years as a result of the early general elections.
And in Rhodopi where we had two Turkish MPs in previous elections, this time we had one Turkish MP.
Of course, these MPs were elected by our votes from the Movement for Change (KİNAL) and the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) which belong to the majority.
I hope that our deputies go out of the party line and discipline on issues concerning us and raise, with a louder voice, views and demands of our community on subjects concerning Western Thrace Turks in the parliament.
This time, if we consider that all of our deputies are from the opposition parties, perhaps, it will be easier for our deputies to be our voice since they all are from the opposition.
We cannot know what will be good what will not be good for us, maybe it will be better for us to be in opposition.
In any case, I hope that the election results will bring good results to our region, people and our country.
I hope that we will have the opportunity to work together with our deputies in dialogue and cooperation for Western Thrace Turkish community.
Beyond my best wishes for the new term, if we would take a look at the latest situation in Western Thrace, presidential decree was adopted which turned our muftis into simple government offices just before the old government left.
And as soon as the new government was formed, the Ministry of Education decided to close 5 more Turkish primary schools.
Thus, 65 Turkish primary schools have been closed since 2011 in accordance with the government’s decision during the economic crises to reduce costs by closing schools with low number of students in country-wide. The number of our primary schools has now decreased to 123.
To tell the truth, closing of the schools in violation of the relevant legislation, our autonomous status in education and the rights we have been granted, was expected to continue in the period of the new government. Since 2011, every year five or ten of our schools were closed.
If the situation continues likewise, unfortunately, the course will be the same as Rhodes and Kos.
There is a risk of extinction of our schools in Western Thrace, as in the Dodecanese.
In fact, the schools are ours, our teachers are selected, appointed and paid by our country, not by us.
Indeed, our primary schools have a special system similar to the private school system, but in practice the state incredibly intervenes in every stage of our education.
When this becomes a state policy, even if the new government comes to power, things in Western Thrace are governed with the understanding of the old same story.
Under these circumstances, it does not seem possible to expect a transformation based on dialogue.
If this is the case, we will continue to struggle with our determination and perseverance as how we know it.
Because we have no other way!
Sincerely.
Halit Habip Oğlu
ABTTF President
