Municipality official resigns after using the Turkish name of Xanthi
The advertisement film he prepared for Xanthi Old City Events caused the resignation of Xanthi Municipality Cultural Center President Askaridis.
The commercial advertisement film prepared by the Xanthi Municipality Cultural Center for the Old City Events, which will be held again in September after a two-year hiatus, caused the resignation of the Cultural Center President Askaridis.
The use of the name 'İskeçe' instead of Xanthi in the Turkish part of the commercial film, which was prepared in Greek, Turkish and Bulgarian, created big reaction from some circles.
In a short time, it became the most discussed topic in the local press and social media, and gained a national dimension.
As a result of the reaction and pressure of some far-right circles, Ilias Askaridis, the Head of Xanthi Municipality Cultural Center, announced that he resigned from his position.
A promotional film in Greek, Turkish and Bulgarian was prepared for the "Old Town Activities" organized by Xanthi Municipality and which will start in the first week of September after a two-year hiatus.
It was reminded that the organizing committee agreed to shoot a commercial in three languages at its meeting about a month ago.
Some circles reacted intensely on the grounds that the Turkish name of the city Xanthi (İskeçe) was used in the Turkish promotional film, which is prepared for the events attended by tens of thousands of people every year and is aimed at tourists coming from Türkiye.
The President of the Cultural Center, who could not stand the reactions, resigned.
Cultural Center President Ilias Askaridis said in a statement, "I declare that I have resigned from my position as the Cultural Center President, taking all political responsibility, due to the faulty (unsuccessful) commercial of my colleagues at the Cultural Center for the Old City Events, which also appealed to the tourism market in Türkiye."
Askaridis submitted his resignation letter to the Mayor of Xanthi, Manolis Tsepelis.
Since the evening of Monday, July 18, when the commercials were released, the use of the Turkish name of Xanthi (İskeçe) as well as the official name of the city, Xanthi in Greek, in the Turkish promotional film caused especially the reaction of ultra-nationalist circles.
The reactions soon spread beyond the region and gained a national dimension. The event was also reflected in the national media. Thereupon, the Municipality of Xanthi canceled the Turkish promotional film.
