ABTTF President: “The politicised and persistent non-execution of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments on Bekir Usta and Others, which involved associations of our community, for the past 17 years is one of the most striking examples of the systematic violation of the rule of law in our country. Since 1981, our country, which is a member of the EU, should apply the principle of the rule of law as a whole for a just society and equal democracy, and put an end to the violation of our community’s freedom of association by immediately and fully executing the ECtHR judgments regarding our associations’’.
Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou emphasised the importance of the rule of law for Greece and Europe.
Speaking at the launch event of retired Ambassador Alexandros Mallias’ book ‘‘Greece-Albania: Facts and Shadows’’, Papastavrou noted that respect for the rule of law is an indisputable principle for both the European Union (EU) and Greece.
“Considering the systematic violation of the rule of law in our country Greece, especially in the recent period by the government itself, we clearly see that Minister Papastavrou’s statement as a member of the cabinet does not apply to our country in practice. Both official institutions such as the Ombudsman and non-governmental organisations as well as supranational organisations such as the EU indicate that the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are under serious threat in our country. The politicised and persistent non-execution of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments on Bekir-Ousta and Others, which involved associations of our community, for the past 17 years is one of the most striking examples of the systematic violation of the rule of law in our country. Since 1981, our country, which is a member of the EU, should implement the principle of the rule of law as a whole for a just society and equal democracy, and put an end to the violation of our community’s freedom of association by immediately and fully executing the ECtHR judgments regarding our associations”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
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