ABTTF attended FUEN TAG’s 4th annual meeting organized in İzmir

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) participated in the 4th annual meeting of the Working Group of Turkic Minorities/Communities (TAG) inside the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) organized on 24-27 October 2017 in the city of İzmir in the motherland Turkey. While ABTTF’s President Halit Habip Oğlu participated in the meeting hosted by the Rhodes, Kos and Dodecanese Turks Culture and Solidarity Association (ROİSDER) with the title Vice President of FUEN, ABTTF was represented at the meeting by Bülent Çolak, Vice President of ABTTF. On behalf of FUEN TAG Secretariat, ABTTF’s International Affairs Director Melek Kırmacı Arık and ABTTF’s Secretary Demet Öcal also attended the meeting.

Representatives of the Turkic minorities and communities came together at the meeting

At the meeting where thirteen organizations from nine different countries of Europe participated, representing the Turkish community in Western Thrace, Greece ABTTF, Friendship Equality and Peace (FEP) Party and Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (WTMUGA); representing Ahiska Turks International Society of Meskhetian Turks “VATAN” and “Vatan" Public Union of Ahiska Turks living in Azerbaijan; representing Karachay-Balkar Turks, Bars El: Social Organization for Fostering and Development of the Karachay-Balkar Traditions, representing Crimean Tatars Crimean Tatar Community on behalf of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people attended the meeting as FUEN members. In addition, the Kosovo Youth Union representing the Turks in Kosovo, the Kardzhali Turkish Culture and Art Association representing the Turks in Bulgaria, the Moscow Qumuq Organization “Qumuqlar” representing the Qumuqs, the Culture and Fine Arts Association “Yeni Yol” representing the Turks in Macedonia and the Ukrainian Gagauz Union representing the Gagauz people in Ukraine also participated in the meeting, which are not members of FUEN yet.

Presentation on “Minority SafePack Initiative (MSPI) made and current developments regarding the Turkic minorities and communities conveyed by the participants at the meeting

On Wednesday 25 October, a cultural and historical tour in İzmir was organized with the contributions of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, and in the afternoon the participants met the Mayor of the Karşıyaka Municipality in his office and visited the host organization of the meeting ROİSDER.

During the meeting held on Thursday 26 October, the welcome speech was delivered by FUEN’s Vice President Halit Habip Oğlu. Afterwards, László Bodor, Campaign Coordinator for MSPI, made a presentation on the European Citizens’ Initiative called “Minority SafePack Initiative (MSPI)” launched to form a Europe-wide minority protection mechanism and to strengthen the linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe.

In continuation of the meeting, while President of ROİSDER Prof. Mustafa Kaymakçı made a presentation on the problems having been faced by the Turks living on the islands, FUEN’s Vice President Halit Habip Oğlu and on behalf of FUEN TAG Secretariat Melek Kırmacı Arık provided information about the works carried out by FUEN TAG in the last one year, and the participants articulated current problems of the Turkic minorities and communities they represent. The Culture and Fine Arts Association “Yeni Yol” made a presentation on the current state and problems of the Turks living in Macedonia and the Ukrainian Union of the Gagauz people made a presentation on the history, life and problems of the Gagauz people living in Ukraine, which both participated in a FUEN TAG meeting for the first time.

At the meeting where the FUEN TAG 2012-2017 activity report was presented, a joint road map was identified through discussing 2018 activities of FUEN TAG with contributions of the participating organizations.