Greece criticised for double standards on minority rights
In the statement released by the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), it was stated that "Our country Greece blocked the start of membership negotiations between Albania and the European Union (EU), citing the imprisonment of the elected mayor belonging to the Greek national minority.
In the statement, it was emphasised that this attitude of Greece is "quite normal" and that they expect the same level of sensitivity towards the Turkish community in Western Thrace, whose "rights and freedoms are systematically usurped".
In the statement pointing out that the problems of Western Thracian Turks such as education and association continue, the following evaluation was made:
"The Copenhagen Criteria on democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities apply not only to EU candidate countries but also to the 27 current EU Member States and therefore to our country."
The Special Court for Corruption and Organised Crime in Albania ordered the arrest of Fredi Beleri, a mayoral candidate representing the Greek minority, who was detained on charges of "active electoral corruption" before the local elections held on 14 May.
