Greece responds to Türkiye’s message on Xanthi Turkish Union anniversary
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a written response on Monday to a social media message posted by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs marking the anniversary of the Xanthi Turkish Union. In its statement, Athens emphasized that the Lausanne Treaty refers to the minority in Thrace as religious rather than ethnic.
The Greek statement reiterated that the country respects the religious beliefs and cultural identity of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace. “The Lausanne Treaty is clear and explicitly defines the minority in Thrace as a religious, not ethnic, minority,” the ministry said. “The Greek state fully respects the religious beliefs and cultural characteristics of the Muslim minority in Thrace. Moreover, it ensures full equality before the law for all Greek citizens belonging to the minority.”
TÜRKİYE CELEBRATES UNION’S ANNIVERSARY
Earlier in the day, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had celebrated the 98th anniversary of the Xanthi Turkish Union on social media, describing it as the oldest civil society organization of the Western Thrace Turkish minority.
In the post, Türkiye stated: “Happy 98th anniversary to the Xanthi Turkish Union, the oldest civil society organization of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority! We support the Union’s rightful efforts and honorable struggle to use its own name in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights rulings.”
