ABTTF President: “We make up almost half the population in Western Thrace, but we are constantly treated as stepchildren by our country. All the problems will be solved once our country sees us as equal before the law. Indeed, strength comes from unity, and we can only overcome these challenges, whether they are political or economic, together. Mutual goodwill and trust are also key to this success.”
The leader of Greece’s main opposition party SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras visited the Rodopi province in Western Thrace on 11 November 2021. Nikos Androulakis, a candidate for the chairmanship of the KINAL Party was also in Komotini at the same time.
Tsipras began his visit to the Rodopi province from Iasmos (Yassıköy) and later moved to Komotini. In his evening speech in Komotini, Tsipras also referred to issues pertaining to the mufti office, minority education and foundations that directly concern the Turkish community in Western Thrace. Tsipras indicated that SYRIZA supports and will continue to support the democratic reforms needed to strengthen the rights of the Muslim minority.
Androulakis, a candidate for the chairmanship of the KINAL Party, told at a news conference in Komotini that the ruling New Democracy Party (NDP) had made great mistakes with respect to the pandemic, the economy, national issues and migrants, and that the SYRIZA Party was not a serious alternative, urging citizens to participate in the elections and have a say in the future of KINAL.
A statement by the NDP Rodopi County Election District Management Committee regarding Tsipras’ visit to the Rodopi Province underscored that Tsipras had denigrated the NDP government with his statements and that in no way he managed to convince the people of Rodopi.
“On Thursday 11 November, the leaders of the opposition SYRIZA and KINAL parties visited our region. As always, they outlined their abundant promises before the elections. However, when they come to power, they immediately forget these promises and implement their own agenda totally. Indeed, it may not be comparable to that of NDP, but it cannot be said that the policies and practices of these parties also protect and advance the rights of the Turkish community in Western Thrace. As for the NDP Rodop regional government, it is understood from the words it used in the statement it released as regards the visit of Tsipras that it is already in a state of panic ahead of the elections. If the NDP regional government told the truth instead of making such statements, it would be more credible to the public. We make up almost half the population in Western Thrace, but we are constantly treated as stepchildren by our country. All the problems will be solved once our country sees us as equal before the law. Indeed, strength comes from unity, and we can only overcome these challenges, whether they are political or economic, together. Mutual goodwill and trust are also key to this success”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
