Turkish foreign minister calls Turkish minority in Greece part of Ottoman heritage
Hakan Fidan’s remarks highlight the Turkish minority in Greece as a historical community and spark reaction in Greek media.
In a recent interview with Iraq-based UTV television, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan openly referred to the Turkish minority in Greece, describing it as a historical community rooted in the post-Ottoman landscape. His remarks emphasized the presence of Turkish populations across several countries once under Ottoman rule, including North Macedonia, Syria, and Greece.
TURKISH MINORITY RECOGNIZED AS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY
Fidan stated, “For historical reasons, Turkish minorities exist in countries neighboring Türkiye following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. You will find such communities in Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Syria, and Iraq. None of these communities have been involved in separatist movements.” His comments were interpreted by analysts as a strong signal that Türkiye views the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace as a living remnant of Ottoman heritage.
Notably, Greek media highlighted that this specific reference was absent from the summary of Fidan’s remarks published by Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency in English.
TURKISH MEDIA RESPONDS TO MITSOTAKIS CLAIMS
The Turkish press also reacted strongly to a recent statement made by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on social media, in which he claimed that “Thracian Hellenism was subjected to genocide by the Neo-Ottomans.” Turkish media outlets, including Hürriyet, Yeni Şafak, and CNNTurk, criticized the remark, calling it a distortion of history and an irresponsible narrative that could further strain bilateral relations.
Although April 6 has been declared a Remembrance Day for Eastern Thracian Hellenism in Greece, Turkish commentators noted that the term “genocide” does not appear in the official texts, arguing that Mitsotakis’s language risks undermining efforts to normalize Greek-Turkish relations.
GREEK MEDIA CALLS IT “A PROVOCATION”
Fidan’s statements were widely covered by the Greek press, which is often aligned with state policy due to financial dependencies. Leading newspapers described the Turkish foreign minister’s use of the term “Turkish minority in Greece” as “yet another provocation” by Ankara. Some commentators accused Türkiye of systematically attempting to violate the Lausanne Treaty and internationalize the minority issue to pressure Greece.
Greek media interpreted Fidan’s remarks as part of a broader Turkish effort to reclaim Ottoman legacy in the region. The daily Ethnos referred to Mitsotakis’s controversial use of the term “genocide of Eastern Thracian Hellenism” and analyzed the backlash it received from the Turkish media. The newspaper suggested that by linking the destruction of Thracian Hellenism to the Neo-Ottomans (Young Turks), Mitsotakis had touched a particularly sensitive nerve in Turkish national discourse, especially regarding its Kemalist foundations.
Experts warn that differing historical narratives between Türkiye and Greece continue to fuel diplomatic tensions, with emotionally charged statements from both sides posing risks to constructive dialogue.
