Erdogan: 'There is no limit to the persecution of our kinsmen in Western Thrace'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the end of his visit to the USA, answered the questions of journalists at the Turkevi in New York. Touching on the issue of the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace, 'There is no limit to the persecution of our kinsmen in Western Thrace' he said.
Greece continues with 'oppressive policies' against Muslim Turkish minority
About a question regarding the remarks of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias who "called on Türkiye to answer why the Greek minority in Istanbul once numbered 100,000 decreased to less than 5,000 people," Erdogan said: "I don't have much to say about the Greek foreign minister, he is not my interlocutor. If he is going to talk, let him to talk with (Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut) Cavusoglu."
Ankara did not expel any Greek from Türkiye during our tenure, Erdogan said, adding that his government does not want reduction of the Greek population in the country.
"For example, when I traveled to Bozcaada or Gokceada, I always asked our very few Greek citizens living there; 'Where are your children?' They said: In America. I said: Bring them to live here. They said: I can't bring my child from America'. What does this show? It means that s/he has no desire to live in Türkiye. Our door is always open.
"We would give citizenship to that child if he did not have citizenship. In fact, once a family did not allow someone to marry a Turkish girl. I said: 'If you ask me for help, I will try'," he added.
Erdogan said Greece continues to pursue "oppressive policies” against the Muslim Turkish minority.
