Consul General Ünal pays support visit to Derekolu: “It is our duty to visit our low-population villages”
Türkiye’s Consul General in Komotini (Gümülcine), Aykut Ünal, visited the villages of İsice and Köresten in the Derekolu area of Xanthi (İskeçe) on the occasion of Friday prayers, meeting with members of the local Turkish minority community.
Consul General Ünal was accompanied by Deputy Consul Umut Yamık, who recently assumed his post. During the visit, Ünal attended Friday prayers in İsice village, where he met with local residents.
Among those present at the prayer were Mustafa Trampa, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board and Mufti of İskeçe; Ahmet Kurt, Mayor of Mustafçova; Cemil Kabza, Head of the Opposition in the Mustafçova Municipal Council; municipal council members; Bahri Belço, Deputy Chairman of the FEP Party; Hüseyin Baltacı, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Association; and numerous members of the local community.
After the prayers, Consul General Ünal spoke with villagers and emphasized the importance of visiting villages with declining populations, describing it as a matter of duty. He noted that observing the daily challenges faced by the community on site and strengthening ties with the villages are among their top priorities.
Visit to Köresten
The delegation later traveled to Köresten, a settlement in the region that has been completely depopulated, where they inspected the Köresten Mosque. Local residents provided information about the current condition of the mosque and the village.
Commenting on the visit, Mufti Mustafa Trampa highlighted its spiritual significance, stating:
“We performed Friday prayers in the village of İsice in the Derekolu region of İskeçe. We are grateful to the villagers, the mosque trustee, and Imam Bülent Onbaşı for their hospitality. After the prayers, we visited the Köresten Mosque.”
The Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Gümülcine also issued a statement regarding the visits, saying:
“We came together with our kin in the village of İsice, İskeçe, and then visited the Köresten Mosque.”
Consul General Ünal’s visit to the Derekolu region was warmly welcomed by both local residents and community institutions.
