Press Bureau of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF)- Witten, 9 Mai 2005
Press Release:
Green Light from the FUEN to the Membership of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF)
The green light was turned on for the membership of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) to the FUEN, which represents the Western Thrace Turkish minority through having attended to the meetings of the FUEN for the last two years.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), which attended to the Nations Congress of the Federal Union of European Nations (FUEN) assembled in Brussels on the 4th-8th May in 2005, has called the representatives of the nations coming from different regions of Europe and attending to the meeting for support through describing the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish minority. At the meeting, the president of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), Halit Habiboglu got the word on behalf of the Western Thrace Turkish minority, and stated that the Turkish identity of the minority was not being recognized in Greece, and the Turkish Union of Xanthi and the Cultural Association of Turkish Women in Rhodope could not perform their
activities due to the word “Turkish” in their names. He said, “The Frame Agreement on the Protection of the Minorities, although Greece signed years ago, but has not passed yet to the National Assembly for ratification, gives not only to the minorities the right to determine and protect their own identities, but also brings obligations to the states to protect and develop these identities. Unfortunately, I cannot find a good will in the not-ratification of these international treaties by my country, Greece, although she is a party to them. To say, many behaviours of my country are just for showpiece, and not really honest.” He also touched on the problems of those, who lost their citizenships due the Art. 19 of the Greek Citizenship Law, and condemned the stateless status of the Western Thrace Turks, who have always been loyal citizens to their country.
Important steps have been taken towards the membership of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) on behalf of the Western Thrace to the FUEN, which has been attending at the meetings of the FUEN for the last two years as representative of the Western Thrace Turks. The upper administration of the FUEN, which was holding the previous application on grounds that the
organization was not founded and is not acting in the Western Thrace, has taken a principle decision in the direction that the possibility of the membership can be guaranteed to a foreign representation, since the establishment or activities of foundations having the word “Turkish” in their names are not being permitted in Greece. The FUEN, which had guaranteed membership to the foreign representations due to the restrictions before the organization and association in the “iron curtain-era”, will have employed the concerning principle against Greece in the following days, if he membership of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) is guaranteed.
After returning from the meeting at the FUEN, the delegation members of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), Halit Hatipoglu and Mehmet Hüseyin, evaluated the outcomes, and said, “We find it crucial to announce our voice and introduce ourselves at organizations such as the FUEN. Beside the wide vision we are getting through taking part to such organizations, the support of the other European folks for our just claim widens the basic of our struggle. Through making afresh application to the concerning organization in the following days, we are going to possess more word and, be more active, since the organization, in which the minorities of 30 countries are being represented, is becoming the only ground in Europe, where the minorities can express themselves and voice loud. We hope that our country, Greece, will recognize the identity of our minority, and our outstanding foundations in Greece can be members to such organizations, and be active there. As the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), we are always ready to carry this historical mission, till our problems are solved completely.
