Press Office of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF)-
Witten, 18 June 2005
Press Release:
“As being a minority of the European Union, we support the bilingual education.”
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) fully supports the bilingual education campaign started by the Turkish Department of the Essen University.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) announced that it would support the bilingual education campaign started at the Essen University with its entire strength. The President of ABTTF, Mr. Halit Habiboglu declared that as being the umbrella organization of the 25.000 Greek citizens of Western Thrace Turks living in the Western Europe and of 29 foundations, the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) was ready to cooperate with all the concerning persons, associations and organizations in the subject matter of bilingual education institutions, and said: “According to the Lausanne Treaty, we, the Western Thrace Turks being a minority in Greece, have the right to form and continue our own education institutions. This education, which functions even today in spite of many problems, is indispensable for our minority. The education of our children in their native language, which is our very natural right, does not have to be luxurious anymore, and the schools, where Turkish is taught, ought to be opened.” Mr. Habipoglu stated that as being a minority, they were not only the minority of Greece, but also of the European Union, and continued: “The European Union is not only an economic area, but also a union of folks. In this togetherness, as much as the rights of the majorities, the rights of the classical minorities and of the immigrant communities having become real minorities in the real sense, but their existences are still not recognized by the states should not be ignored. As being the only minority of Europe recognized, we appeal from all of the Western European countries, among them, from Germany particularly, where have settled in, and live today, that our minority rights, in the first instance, our right to education are given us here, too, and the reality that the Turkish immigrants living in Germany are also a minority of this country is accepted, and the education institutions, where the teaching is bilingual, both in German and Turkish, are realized. As Federation, with its 29 member foundations, we are ready to support the campaign started with this aim.”
