New Democracy on Thursday issued a statement, responding to an announcement by main opposition SYRIZA party that criticised the ruling parties on their handling of issues relating to Muslim minorities in Thrace.

“SYRIZA’s poisonous games over national issues must finally end. SYRIZA’s nonsense about the prime minister’s alleged statements in 1989 to the magazine “Epoptia” was debunked decades ago by the very magazine that published them, which admitted it had been in error. Panic gives poor counsel and often leads to self-humiliation. Mr. Tsipras should be mindful of this,” New Democracy’s press office said in a statement.

SYRIZA had issued the following statement: “Mr. Samaras must realize he is not the president of Political Spring (PolAn) party so that he can continue playing ruthless nationalist games, but is still the prime minister of the country. He must also explain his view that ‘there is a Turkish minority in Thrace’ as he had said in the past in an extensive interview with the magazine ‘Epoptia’ (Issue 141, January 1989)”.