Advisory Board: The expectation of the minority is only respect and trust
The Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board made a statement about Dora Bakoyannis, who scolded and threatened minority people.
The Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board (BTTADK) made a statement about Dora Bakoyanni, one of the important names of the New Democracy Party, berating and threatening the minority people who voted for the SYRIZA Party and its Turkish candidate Özgür Ferhat in the Rhodope province in the 21 May general elections.
Emphasizing that the expectation of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority is only respect and trust, BTTADK stated the following in its written statement:
"We have seen both in the post-election assessments of NDP leader Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and in the speeches made by former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Thrace Development Commission Chairman Mrs. Dora Bakoyanni to the public as part of her visit to our region, that the members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority have little respect for their free will and preferences.
Especially threatening rhetoric has offended the minority people. This rhetoric, which evokes the period that few remember as dark days in the past, cannot be accepted by us.
It is understood from the accusations that there was great discomfort because only the Rhodope province was red while the whole of Greece was being painted blue.
However, we believe that it would be a more rational approach for them to question the minority policies they implement and make self-criticism instead of looking for the responsible for the result elsewhere.
For example, how will you explain to this society how you have made our region the poorest region of Greece and Europe with the policies followed so far, and for this reason, you have left many of our young people reluctantly to leave our region?
Our minority knows very well that you have always ignored our chronic problems such as identity, education, foundations and mufti from past to present.
The Treaty of Lausanne gives many rights to the minority. Unfortunately, Greece, which has entrusted the minority, has always continued to usurp rights with the laws it has enacted without addressing the minority, instead of giving the minority their rights and solving their problems within the framework determined by international law.
We hope that you will try to change your attitude that constantly stigmatizes the rights, demands and preferences of the minority.
When you achieve this, we are sure that you will understand us better and will be able to respect our free will.
You should know that minority people never let go of oppression and blackmail. Those who want to embrace the minority can only achieve this with sincere trust and respect."
