ABTTF at Summer Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) paid a formal visit to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) between 22 and 24 June 2009. Under the scope of 3 day formal visit paid parallel to the 3rd Plenary Session of PACE in 2009, the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace was represented by Halit Habipoglu, President of ABTTF and K. Engin Soyyilmaz, person in charge of international affairs. ABTTF presented its work on the Turkish Minority’s political representation that covers the problem of 3% electoral threshold to the related people.

3% electoral threshold and the Turkish Minority’s political representation problem

ABTTF met Isild Heurtin, Deputy Secretary of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and Uwe Müller, Political Adviser on Turkey, Greece and Cyprus at Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs of the Council of Europe. In that framework, representatives of ABTTF had also a meeting with Alain Chablais from the Division of Democratic Institutions and Fundamental Rights of the Venice Commission.

During the meetings, it was underlined that following 1990’s general elections in Greece when two Minority MPs had been elected, then a new election law had been adopted, and accordingly, in addition to the political parties, independent MPs would be object to nationwide 3% electoral threshold. Additionally, it was stated that the province of Rhodopi with Evros province, and the province of Xanthi with Kavala and Drama provinces were merged to form enlarged electoral districts which had been designed to prevent the election of Turkish origin governors and local executives.

Freedom of association and the case of Turkish Union of Xanthi

During the meeting with Uwe Müller, ABTTF delegation detailed the case of Turkish Union of Xanthi (as might be recalled, the Union was closed due to the Turkish term in its name) and the ongoing process about the case. It was reminded that despite the European Court of Human Rights’ verdict, Xanthi Court of First Instance had rejected the demand of the Union to get the pre-1983 status back in May 2009. Additionally, it was added that the Greek authorities had banned the foundation of the Minority Culture and Education Association of Southern Evros.

Common standards for the protection of minorities and ECRI’s fourth country report on Greece

ABTTF spoke with Boriss Cilevics, Latvian MP and member of the Sub-Committee on Rights of Minorities Rights, about his report on the protection of minorities in Europe. Additionally, during the talks with Stephanos Stavros, new Executive Secretary of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and Aline Usanese, lawyer at ECRI Secretariat, ABTTF delegation got the information that the 4th country report of ECRI on Greece would be published in September 2009.

Habipoglu: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is of vital importance for the Turkish Minority

Halit Habipoglu, President of ABTTF stated that “ABTTF follows the works of the Council of Europe on human and minority rights very closely and so determines its own work schedule and strategy. The reports by Thomas Hammerberg, Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe and Michel Hunault, French MP, dealing with Greece underlines the importance of long lasting lobbying. The report by Hunault will come to the agenda of the fall plenary session of PACE and will be voted.”