A statement in response to a recent Turkish post referring to the Muslim minority of Thrace, published by the Greek foreign ministry, notes that the Lausanne Treaty clearly defines the religious character of the minority, while stressing that the country operates entirely within the framework of international law and the Constitution.

At the same time, it stresses the respect and protection of the rights of the members of the minority as Greek citizens with full equality and equality of rights, noting that repeated positions that challenge this framework do not contribute to trust and good neighbourly relations.

The entire statement:

“We recall that the Treaty of Lausanne clearly defines the character of the minority in Thrace as religious.

Greece, as a European state governed by the rule of law, acts within the framework set by the Constitution, fully implements the relevant provisions of the international conventions for the protection of human rights, and fully respects and protects the religious beliefs and cultural particularities of the Muslim minority in Thrace, whose members, as Greek citizens, enjoy full equality and equality.

Repeated announcements with similar content neither produce justice nor contribute to the creation of a climate of trust and good neighbourliness.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry in a post wished “happy birthday on the 99th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish association of Xanthi” and added: “We continue to support the just struggle of the association, the oldest civil society organization of the Turkish minority in western Thrace, for the use of its name, as well as the initiatives it is resolutely pursuing in accordance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.”