ABTTF paid a working visit to Brussels

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) paid a working visit to the European Par-liament in Brussels on 29 September 2015. Accompanied by ABTTF Brussels Office, ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu conducted meetings with UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation) General Secretary Marino Busdachin, Member of the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the Minority Intergroup in the EP Nils Torvalds (Finland/ALDE) and Member of the European Parliament Andor Deli (Hungary/EPP).

ABTTF met members of the European Parliament Nils Torvalds and Andor Deli

During the meeting with MEP Nils Torvalds who is the member of Swedish minority in Finland, ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu stated his gratitude to him for being present at 2015 FUEN Congress in Western Thrace where he had the chance to personally observe the problems of the Turkish Minority. Habip Oğlu discussed with him not only the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace but the ones of Rhodes and Kos Turks. He also put on the table the possible steps to be taken within the Minority Intergroup where Mr Torvalds is co-chair.

During the meeting with MEP Andor Deli who is the member of Hungarian minority in Serbia, Habip Oğlu shortly explained the general problems of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace fo-cusing particularly on the issues concerning minority’s autonomy on education and religious affairs. Mr Deli stated that the conditions of minorities were fairly good in Serbia where there are approxi-mately 20 minority groups. He expressed his support for the cause of Western Thrace Turks in the EP works.

UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin: “The Greek politicians are notorious in Brus-sels for boycotting everything and are the least loved ones”

Having met twice with the UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation) General Sec-retary Marino Busdachin, Habip Oğlu discussed with him the possibilities of collaboration between UNPO and ABTTF. Busdachin declared that they were always open to the cooperation demands from minorities as well as unrepresented groups while expressing his contentment to concretise some joint projects with ABTTF in the near future.