Thomas Countryman, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, made an interview with journalist Vasiliki Siouti for Sunday Eleftherotypia. In his interview, he defined Western Thrace Turkish minority as „ethnically Turkish“. However, that interview caused tension between Washington and Athens. According to Greek media, Charles Ries, United States Ambassador to Greece, was invited to Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry and Greece’s discomfort with Thomas Countryman’s definition of Western Thrace Turkish minority as „ethnically Turkish“ was conveyed to him.
According to Greek media Haralambos Rokanas, Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary General, expressed that such initiatives could harm the bilateral relations between Greece and United States. According to Greek media, Charles Ries, United States Ambassador to Greece revealed that „United States does not want to have such conflicts“. Greek media commented that US and Grece had two different minority definiton and that was the underlying reason behind the misunderstanding.
As a remainder, Thomas Countryman, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, revealed in his interview with journalist Vasiliki Siouti for Sunday Eleftherotypia that „Greece persistently opposes the right of Western Thrace Turkish minority to define themselves as Turkish within the context of ethnic identity and this behaviour of Greece is illogical.“
Athens, aa
•
Thomas Countryman’s Telephone Interview to Journalist Vasiliki Siouti for Sunday Eleftherotypia
