ABTTF criticizes Greek Foreign Ministry over response to Turkish Union anniversary message
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) has strongly criticized the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its response to a congratulatory message issued by Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 98th anniversary of the Turkish Union of Xanthi (İTB).
TENSIONS OVER ETHNIC IDENTITY
In a written statement, ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu accused Greece of deliberately misinterpreting the Treaty of Lausanne. “Our country continues to distort the truth by interpreting the Lausanne Treaty in its own way, while consistently avoiding direct dialogue with our community,” he said. “Just as the Christians living in Istanbul, Gökçeada, and Bozcaada are considered of Greek origin, we, who have lived in Western Thrace for centuries, are equally Turkish.”
Habipoğlu also highlighted what he called a double standard between Turkey and Greece. He noted that Turkey allowed the opening of a Greek primary school on the island of Gökçeada in 2013, even for just three students, while Greece continues to shut down associations like İTB simply because the word "Turkish" appears in their names. “Our country even finds the commemoration of these anniversaries disturbing,” he added.
LEGAL CRITICISM AND CALL FOR DIALOGUE
Referring to the long-standing legal battle surrounding the İTB, Habipoğlu reminded that Greece has failed to implement European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings for 17 years. “Although Greece claims our community enjoys full equality as Greek citizens, it persistently refuses to enforce ECHR judgments in favor of our associations, including the Turkish Union of Xanthi, openly violating our freedom of association,” he said.
He urged Greek authorities to acknowledge the ethnic Turkish identity of the minority in Western Thrace and to abandon policies that distort the reality of their existence. “We call on our country to immediately end its denial of our community’s identity and to establish a sincere and direct dialogue with us to resolve our longstanding issues,” Habipoğlu stated.
GREEK MINISTRY DEFENDS ITS POSITION
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs had responded to Turkey’s April 14th social media post marking İTB’s anniversary by reiterating that the Treaty of Lausanne defines the minority in Western Thrace as religious, not ethnic. The ministry maintained that members of the minority enjoy full equality under the law.
