MP Ferhat: 'Western Thrace Minority is the pearl of Greek democracy'

Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat delivered a speech at the central founding meeting of the New Left Party of which he is a founding member.

Referring to our region and our minority in his speech, the MP stated the following

"The last electoral process had turned into a very fierce political duel and it was very corrosive. I am honoured and happy that for two months our Minority and Western Thrace were at the top of the agenda of the country, and despite this, we emerged victorious from this tough race.

The multifaceted characteristics of our region, its multiculturalism, the positive interaction between the minority and the majority are sufficient indicators for us to struggle together to take forward a society that has existed for centuries.

In addition to democratic and institutional solutions, we must take this historic region forward and upward with support programmes and development projects.

Furthermore, the efforts of the Minority to be targeted and used by the right-wing and far-right mentality before each election must stop and its transformation into an election tool in the hands of the parties must end.

As you know, during the past electoral process, by occupying the agenda, our Minority and our region have been affected by Mr. Mitsotakis, Mr. Skerços, and Mr. Ikonomou used our Minority and our region as a tool of polarisation throughout Greece for the sake of winning elections. He even asked us to make a statement on live broadcast that we are bound by the Treaty of Lausanne.

However, Sirigos now characterises the Treaty of Lausanne as backward.

Not responding to these ridiculous people at that time was because I was committed to winning the election. Then, of course, they got the answer they needed.

Of course we respect Lausanne.

However, this does not mean that our Minority has no problems. Like every Minority, our Minority also has its own problems. Our Minority has many problems and is waiting for a solution.

We, as the New Left, must devote a large part of our party programme to solving the main problems of the Minority. In addition to basic human rights and legal problems, we must ensure that the economic problems of our Minority, as in the country as a whole, are solved and prosperity is achieved.

We will succeed together, our road is difficult and long, but we will definitely succeed."