15.5 million euros for Xanthi, not a "single cent" for the minority high school!
The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras visited Xanthi on Wednesday 15 May and distributed millions of euros again.
Staikouras and the accompanying delegation met with the Mayor of Xanthi Kontos, Deputy Provincial President Brika. They visited the bazaar in Xanthi and chatted with shopkeepers.
During Staikouras' visits to Xanthi, we could not even see Spiros Tsilingiris, an MP from his own party, let alone Burhan Baran and Hüseyin Zeybek. (At least not in the photographs)
Minister Staikouras announced at a press conference that a total of 15.5 million euros more funds have been allocated to Xanthi.
What else is expected from a Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, of course he will come to distribute money. Especially if the period is the period before the 9 June EP elections, millions will fly in the air.
There is almost everything in the package announced by Staikouras, but again there is not a single "nibble" for the building of the minority high school!
There is money for the Xanthi-Bulgaria road, there is money for the building of the Music School, there is money for the repair of the Xanthi State Hospital, there is even money for the Madrasah, BUT, there is NO MONEY for the new building of the Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School, which the Muslim Turks of Xanthi rightfully demand at every opportunity!
Don't be misunderstood! We are not the ones to decide where the Ministry will give the money and we are not saying that it should not be given there, but we would have expected the new building project of the Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School to be included in the announced 15.5 million euro package.
Believe me, we do not want to say that this state "discriminates". We do not want to, but unfortunately, the above-mentioned facts make us think that the minority and the just demands of the minority have again been swept under the carpet.
It is not possible that the Minister is not aware of the issue, since the Xanthi Minority Secondary School - High School Council Committee and the Parent-Teacher Association had sent a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis very soon regarding the school building problem and conveyed their demands for a solution.
If you remember, marches were organised and the demand for a new building was conveyed both verbally and in writing to all relevant units of the government. Even the whole of Europe and the world has learnt about the need for a building. Therefore, it is not possible for Staikouras not to know.
If he doesn't know, let us remind him again. Come to Xanthi once again. Come and visit the Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School. See it with your own eyes. See it and put an end to this "discrimination" and make your statements for the construction of a new building from the school garden!
The children of Muslim Turks citizens of Greece deserve a new, reliable, spacious and well-equipped school building. You know that very well.
But if you say, "If you continue to say that you are TURKISH, your children will continue to be educated in tobacco warehouses, there is NOTHING for you", know that we will continue to shout that we are MUSLIM TURKISH citizens of Greece at all costs.
We are a patient, democratic, struggling and respectful society. We will continue to wait patiently and send our children to minority schools, even in tobacco warehouses.
