ABTTF replies to former Greek President's "false speach"

ABTTF responded to the ex-president who made a “false speech” about Western Thrace Turks at a conference he attended.

Former President of Greece Prokopis Pavlopulos referred to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace in his speech at the conference organized by the Art Music and Philology Association called "O Skoufos".

In his speech, Pavlopoulos asserted that Greece, as a member of the international community and the European Union (EU), fully complies with the provisions of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and proves them day by day, especially the status of muftis in Western Thrace and exercising their right to freedom of association.

Halit Habipoğlu, the President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe(ABTTF), published written statement regarding the issue. ABTTF stated that what former President Pavlopoulos said in his speech at a conference is “inconsistent” with the facts.

ABTTF made the following statement:

“Former President Pavlopoulos still continues to make statements that our country fully complies with international law regarding freedom of association.

Unfortunately, the policies and practices regarding the right to use the freedom of association of the Western Thrace Turkish society in our country are not as our former President claims. It is in no way compatible with the EU standards of which our country is a member and the European Convention on Human Rights to which it is a party.

Despite all the warnings of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, our country has still not implemented the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights against the Xanthi Turkish Union for more than 14 years. The rule of law is ignored.

Our country, which closes or does not register our associations just because they belong to our society, on the other hand, allows the association that refers to ethnic origin in its name, for example, established by Armenians in Komotini." said.