ABTTF: ‘Our country’s politicians are disturbed by Türkiye’s support for the Western Thrace Turkish Community’
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) responded to remarks made by PASOK – KINAL MP and Foreign Affairs Representative Dimitris Mantzos regarding messages issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense on the 37th anniversary of the Western Thrace Turkish Community’s January 29 Day of Social Solidarity and National Resistance.
Mantzos alleged in a written statement that "these provocative statements are part of the Turkish government’s recent aggressive rhetoric towards Greece and reflect Türkiye’s increasing interest in the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, even within the framework of the ongoing Greek-Turkish dialogue process."
Commenting on the matter, ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu expressed his concerns, stating: "I read with astonishment the baseless claims made by PASOK – KINAL’s Foreign Affairs Representative Dimitris Mantzos, which not only lack foundation but also harm the ongoing positive dialogue process between our country and Türkiye. Just as our country advocates for the Greek minority in Albania, engaging in dialogue to ensure their rights and well-being, our motherland, Türkiye, does the same for us. It supports us as it should and naturally brings our issues to the agenda in bilateral relations. Our expectation from leading politicians in our country, including Mantzos, is to act with a sense of responsibility rather than seeking cheap political gains. They should support rather than obstruct efforts to strengthen the recent positive developments between our country and Türkiye."
