ABTTF President: “SYRIZA, which came to power in 2015 with the slogan ‘‘Change’’, failed to fulfil its commitments to our community during its four and a half years in power. As the Turkish community in Western Thrace, we expect both SYRIZA and all other political parties in our country to take concrete steps towards resolving our issues.”
In a statement made by the Coalition of the Radical Left – Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA), one of Greece’s opposition parties, it was indicated that SYRIZA has set as one of its primary goals the promotion of democratic reforms that will strengthen the rights of the Muslim minority in (Western) Thrace and increase social harmony by correcting past serious mistakes.
It was further noted that SYRIZA supports the election of the muftis in consultation with the minority and through processes that will be widely accepted, and advocates for elections to the boards of foundations to be held as soon as possible, the opening of new public schools, and the strengthening of the infrastructure of the minority schools.
Moreover, it was added that SYRIZA supports the right to self-identification as defined in European and Greek legal frameworks.
“When I read SYRIZA’s pledge to democratic reforms for our community, I felt a sense of déjà vu and was suddenly transported back to the past. For in the past, SYRIZA also included the issues of our community in its party programme and, before every general election, made commitments to our community that these issues would be solved. However, once in power, for some reason, it completely forgot about us and our issues. SYRIZA, which came to power in 2015 with the slogan ‘‘Change’’, failed to fulfil its commitments to our community during its four and a half years in power. Former Prime Minister and former SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras promised during his visit to the Xanthi Turkish Minority Middle and High School in 2016 that a solution would be found for the school’s building issues, but unfortunately, he did not keep his word. As the Turkish community in Western Thrace, we are waiting for both SYRIZA and all other political parties in our country to take concrete steps towards resolving our issues”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
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