Intervention made by:
Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association and the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe
Mr. Moderator,
On behalf of Western Thrace Minority Graduates Association and the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe, we take part in this meeting in the hope to learn and benefit from the contemporary ideas and achievements that are bound to raise the quality of life of mankind.
We take part in this meeting also to offer a snapshot of our side of the world, not to express contempt, but to call attention to the issues that affect us, in the hope to attain a fair and mutual social understanding through principled dialogue and compromise.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe is composed of 31 associations across Europe. Since 1988 it has been working on the promotion of human and minority rights across Europe and international institutions.
Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association is 21 years old. This organization came into life shortly before the banning of Turkish minority’s century old associations. Following the imposition of restrictions on our freedom of association in Greece, since 1980s, we practically turned into the single officially recognized broad-based civil organization of the Muslim Turkish minority of Western Thrace.
Today, our organizations represent a community of nearly two thousand university graduates and over 140.000 people who we hope to bridge gaps, not only within the Turkish community in Western Thrace, but also between the Turkish minority and the majority population, as well as between the minority and the State. We try to address each and every one of our community’s outstanding problems through research and advocacy and do our best to draw attention of the authorities and the international community to these problems…
Recently the trial of the Xanthi Turkish Union which has been a legal society since 1927, and banned in 1984 reached its final phase before the Supreme Court. The case was reviewed on 19th of September. Although the decision of the court is yet to be announced, a heated debate started within the legal, academic and political circles. Greek national press is also actively taking part in the debate. We believe our case has been based on solid legal arguments and remain hopeful that 20 years after the Act to ban the Xanthi Turkish Union justice will finally prevail.
Mr. Moderator,
Many of our forefathers had to take refuge in Turkey and other European countries because of the bitter experiences during the past 40-50s. For many years minority students had to continue their education at schools and universities in other countries due to the impossibility of having proper education in Greece. Since the second half of 90s however, thanks to a number of constructive measures introduced by the Greek Government and through introduction of 0.5 % admission quota, our youth also started enjoying possibilities of higher education in our homeland as well.
In 2000, Greek and Turkish Governments agreed on printing and distribution of new primary school textbooks in Turkish for the minority schools throughout Western Thrace. Though after long delays a similar process is satisfactorily under way to introduce new textbooks for minority junior and high schools.
Unfortunately however, I am not in a position to report similar positive steps to overcome the outstanding problems regarding freedom of religion, racism and xenophobia. Despite the two verdicts of the European Court of Human Rights against Greece and in favor of the elected Muftis, (Muslim Religious leaders) the Government still insists on imposing its appointed officers. This interference by the Government is considered “unnecessary in democratic societies” by the European Court.
Hate speech and xenophobia are still very common in almost all sectors of daily life, and more so in Western Thrace. But it is encouraging that physical attacks, persecution and desecration of holy places like mosques, Muslim cemeteries have either stopped or declined to negligible levels for many years.
Through the policy of equal citizenship (isonomia-isopolitia) significant progress has been achieved in the sphere of safeguarding our fundamental rights. However, the number of minority members employed in public services is far below their share of the population. One has to admit that this phenomenon not only originates from discriminatory treatment by the authorities, but also due to the lack of linguistic proficiency of elder generations. Mistreatment and prejudice remain as two important problems.
In terms of minority rights, despite repeated promises to hold elections for the managing bodies of pious foundations by numerous cabinet ministers, politicians and local authorities, Religious Charitable Foundations which comprise minority’s centuries old heritage are still administered by people appointed by the military Junta in the 60es. Both according to the Treaty of Athens of 1913 and the Treaty of Lausanne, Greece has undertaken to safeguard the autonomy of these institutions and provide for their governance through elected bodies.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In that respect, we recommend the OSCE to look into manifestations the hate speech in the Greek media.
We also highly recommend that the Greek Government should ratify the Council of Europe`s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
With that note I would like announce that a brief outline of what we consider a factual brief on the outstanding issues that continue affecting the life of the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace will be available for those who are interested.
Thank You Mr. Moderator.
Tzemil Kapza
Western Trace Minority
Graduates Association
Egnatias 75 Komontini/Greece
Tel/fax: 030/ 2531029705
E-mail:
btaytd@otenet.gr
Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe
Johannisstr.14
D-58452 Witten
Tel: +49(0)2302/913291
Fax: +49 (0)913293
E-mail:
info.abtf@org
www.abttf.org
