Fidan: “We will firmly maintain our stance in protecting the rights of our kinsmen”
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan delivered a presentation before the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Planning and Budget Committee regarding the Ministry’s proposed 2026 budget. During his address, he also touched upon the challenges faced by the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.
Fidan stated that Türkiye’s positive agenda with Greece had been preserved throughout 2025 through sustained high-level contacts. He noted that the 6th Meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council is planned to be held in Ankara in the upcoming period. He added that the Confidence-Building Measures process was revitalized following the February 6 earthquakes, with the most recent meeting held on 23 October 2025 in Izmir.
Addressing the situation of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace and Turkish-origin communities in the Dodecanese, Fidan emphasized that Turkey continues all necessary diplomatic initiatives against the restrictions and unjust practices related to education, religious freedoms, and other fundamental rights faced by these communities.
Fidan concluded:
“While we remain committed to improving our relations with Greece on the basis of good neighborliness, we will continue—just as firmly—to defend our national interests and protect the rights of our kinsmen.”
