ABTTF President: “As noted in the European Commission’s report, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against our country for repeatedly violating the freedom of association of the Turkish community in Western Thrace. For nearly 20 years, our country has persistently failed to execute the ECtHR judgments regarding the associations of our community in the Bekir-Ousta and Others group of cases and has no intention of doing so. True progress in the rule of law in our country is measured not by the government’s own subjective assessment, but by the state’s full execution of independent court judgments and the guarantee of fundamental rights and freedoms for everyone.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered some remarks on the state of the rule of law in the country during a press conference held as part of the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (DETH).
Citing the European Commission’s annual rule of law report, Mitsotakis claimed that Greece has made significant progress in this area and is in a better position than in the past. Mitsotakis argued that the EU’s views, rather than those of the opposition, should be the basis for assessing the country’s progress.
“Contrary to Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s claims, the rule of law in our country, Greece, has not only failed to improve in recent years but has actually weakened further and is being systematically violated. The European Commission’s latest annual report, published last July, also highlights the problems in our country regarding judicial independence and media freedom, as well as the obstacles faced by civil society organisations. Compliance with court judgments and the protection of fundamental rights are also integral parts of the rule of law. As noted in the European Commission’s report, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against our country for repeatedly violating the freedom of association of the Turkish community in Western Thrace. For nearly 20 years, our country has persistently failed to execute the ECtHR judgments regarding the associations of our community in the Bekir-Ousta and Others group of cases and has no intention of doing so. True progress in the rule of law in our country is measured not by the government’s own subjective assessment, but by the state’s full execution of independent court judgments and the guarantee of fundamental rights and freedoms for everyone’’, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
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