Iskeçe (Xanthi) Turkish Solidarity Association celebrated 80th Foundation anniversary

Iskeçe (Xanthi) Turkish Solidarity Association celebrated 80th Foundation anniversary on 2-4 November in Iskece (Xanthi). Halit Habipoglu, chairman of Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) and Mustafa Kasap, member of ABTTF Executive Council, participated the anniversary, rep-resenting Western Thrace Turkish Minority members in Europe. The organization kicked off with opening ceremony which was held on 2 November and then a concert was performed. The speakers celebrated the 80th foundation anniversary of the Association and Habipoglu conveyed his best wishes, underlining ABTTF’s long-lasting efforts to represent Western Thrace Turkish minority members’ fair struggle on international platform would continue.


Current situation of Western Thrace Turkish Minority Association was the issue on the agenda…

Under the framework of foundation activities, a panel on “freedom of organization” was held. Halit Habipoglu, Mumtaz Soysal, former Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic, Dr. Basak Cali, academician at Univeristy of London, Cetin Mandaci, MP from PASOK, İlhan Ahmet, former Gumulcine MP from New Democracy Party, Mustafa Mustafa, former Gumulcine MP from Left Alliance, Stamatis Sakelion, journalist, Sebahattin Karaduman, Doctorate student from University of London, Nalan Mustafaoglu, lawyer and Mustafa Trampa, General Secretary of Iskeçe (Xanthi) Turkish Solidarity Association partici-pated the panel. Morning and afternoon sessions were held.

Following speech of Dr. Basak Cali, Halit Habipoglu said that problems of Western Thrace Turkish Mi-nority members were political rather than juridical, underlining Greece’s did not even care European Council of Human Right’s decisions regarding minority cases for which Macedonian Culture Centre could be a good example.

Habipoglu also stated that Greece saw Turkish minority as a threat rather than cultural wealth and that view lay under all the problems. “We are Greek citizens who work for the welfare and development of our country. When our country does not see us as a threat, then all these problems will come to an end” said Habipoglu.

The panel ended with a dinner. Meanwhile, Habipoglu said it was good and satisfactory to have the Western Thrace Turkish minority members’ interest for the panel, yet worrisome not to have any repre-sentative from majority which could be taken as a sign of Greek’s attitude against minority. We all hope, Greek side will change their attitude against minority members and we all live in peace.” said Habipoglu.