Erdoğan conveys Western Thrace Turkish Minority concerns to Mitsotakis
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he conveyed Ankara’s expectations regarding the rights of the Western Thrace Turkish minority during a recent meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Speaking after Monday’s Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdoğan addressed the nation and highlighted recent high-level diplomatic engagements, including his February 11 talks with Mitsotakis.
Western Thrace Minority Rights Raised
Erdoğan stated that discussions covered bilateral relations as well as positions concerning the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. He noted that documents signed during the visit strengthened the legal framework of cooperation between the two countries.
The Turkish president said he directly communicated Türkiye’s expectations that the Western Thrace Turkish minority be able to fully benefit from its educational and religious rights.
Ankara has long emphasized the protection of minority rights in Western Thrace, a region in northeastern Greece where a recognized Muslim minority resides under the framework of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.
Trade Target Set at $10 Billion
Erdoğan also underlined the importance of expanding economic ties between the two NATO allies.
Recalling that bilateral trade volume reached approximately $7 billion last year, he said Türkiye aims to increase that figure to $10 billion.
“We desire to elevate our trade volume with Greece to the level of $10 billion,” Erdoğan stated.
Despite periodic tensions over maritime boundaries and regional security issues, both sides have in recent years sought to maintain diplomatic channels and expand economic cooperation.
