Turkish Parliamentary Delegation of the BSEC visits Western Thrace
A delegation from the Turkish Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), led by Fatih Dönmez, Deputy President of PABSEC and Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), paid an official visit to Western Thrace on Saturday, October 4.
The visit took place upon the invitation of Dr. Serhat Köksal, President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, following the delegation’s arrival in Selanik.
Meetings in Gümülcine
The delegation’s first stop was in Komotini (Gümülcine), where members visited the Komotini Turkish Youth Union (GTGB).
They were welcomed by Türkiye’s Consul General in Gümülcine, Aykut Ünal, and his wife İlayda Ünal, alongside Gümülcine Mufti İbrahim Şerif, FEP Party Chairperson Çiğdem Asafoğlu, and GTGB President Sedat Hasan.
Following discussions with local representatives, the group posed for a commemorative photo.
Later, the delegation attended a luncheon hosted by Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Hristodoulos Topsidis in Gümülcine.
In a statement shared via social media, the Turkish Consulate General in Komotini said:
“Our TBMM PABSEC Turkish Group delegation, led by Eskişehir MP Mr. Fatih Dönmez, visited Western Thrace today. The Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Hristodoulos Topsidis, hosted the delegation at a luncheon.”
Visits in İskeçe
After the meetings in Komotini, the TBMM PABSEC delegation traveled to Xanthi (İskeçe), where they first visited the İskeçe Central Turkish Primary School. They were welcomed by the school principal, the Xanthi Primary Education Director, members of the school committee, and the Parent-Teacher Association. The meeting was held behind closed doors.
The delegation then proceeded to the İskeçe Turkish Union (İskeçe Türk Birliği), where they were received by President Kerem Abdurrahimoğlu and members of the board.
During the visit, local representatives briefed the delegation on the ongoing denial of the Turkish identity of the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority and the challenges faced in education and other sectors.
The final stop was a visit to Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of İskeçe and President of the Advisory Board of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, who welcomed the delegation at his office. The meeting took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere, after which the delegation returned to Thessaloniki.
