ITB President Ozan Ahmetoğlu talks about January 29 in Izmit

On Sunday, January 29, 2023, the program on 'January 29', organized by the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association (BTDDD) Headquarters and BTTDD Izmit Branch, with the support of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, was held with the participation of kinsmen from Western Thrace and other Balkan countries living in Izmit. ITB President Ozan Ahmetoğlu attended the event in Izmit as the guest of BTDD, and attended the event and made a presentation on "Understanding January 29 on its 35th anniversary".

Explaining the importance of 29 January for the Turks of Western Thrace in his speech, the President of the ITB gave information about the results of the 29 January. Ahmetoğlu said that January 29 was the biggest mass protest and said that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace achieved significant gains in the field of citizenship rights thanks to the struggles on January 29, but the usurpation of rights under international law continues, and there is no improvement in this area.

Talking about the 40-year legal struggle of the ITB, Ahmetoğlu emphasized that Greece has insisted on not implementing the decision of the European Court of Human Rights for 15 years and has not returned the legal status of the ITB. Ahmetoğlu said, “The mentality that denied the national identity of the Western Thrace Turks 35 years ago has unfortunately still not changed. The denial policy continues despite the ECtHR rulings.”

Xanthi Turkish Union President Ozan Ahmetoğlu presented a painting of Xanthi Hamidiye Bridge to Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükanıt, and a painting of Mehmet Hilmi, one of the founders of ITB, to BTTDD Chairman Hasan Küçük.

ITB President Ozan Ahmetoğlu later attended the ceremony held in front of the National Identity Monument in Izmit.