Theodora Kokla new Secretary General of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace

According to the decision taken during the Cabinet meeting on 9 December 2009, Theodora Kokla has become the new Secretary General of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace. In addition, according to the internet news site called Thrace, regarding the disclosure of the secretary generals for the thirteen regions of Greece on 10 December 2009, for the first time a woman has been appointed for the position of the Secretariat General of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Theodora Kokla (50), graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Dimokritos, worked many years as responsible for international relations at the Center of Activity and Research for Peace. Theodora Kokla, who participated in the municipal elections of Athens as a candidate from the list of Maria Damanaki in 1998, was also special advisor of the Deputy Minister of Environment Rodoula Zisi. Since 2007, Theodora Kokla had been working together with Thalia Dragana, the responsible for the Programme for the Education of Muslim Children (PEM).

Habipoğlu: Theodora Kokla should stop the ongoing construction of the church on the land belonging to the Wakf of Yanıkköy Mosque

With regard to the appointment of Theodora Kokla, Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), stated that “Since she worked together with Thalia Dragana, the responsible for the Programme for the Education of Muslim Children (PEM), Theodora Kokla knows the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. Moreover, as a graduate of the University of Dimokritos, Kokla is familiar with the region of Western Thrace. We wish Theodora Kokla success for her new position, and request her to initiate a dialogue process with the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace on the basis of mutual respect and tolerance. As ABTTF, our first request to Kokla is stopping the unauthorized and illegal construction of the church on the land belonging to the Wakf of Yanıkköy Mosque in the township of Yanıkköy, Komotini. The construction of the church on the glebe known as the “Han fields” where the Pontus Greeks organize their event called “Panharia”, has been continuing despite the seizure of the construction equipment. Today the construction is nearly completed. On 18 August 2009, Dimitris Stamatis, former Secretary General of the Region, made a statement on the work which should be done between the municipality of Sirkeli and the township of Mehrikoz, and stated that the contruction of the church on the glebe had been stopped and construction equipments had been seizured. However, on the day of Stamatis’ statement, the concrete of the roof of the church was already poured. Today, at the period of investigation of the problem of land ownership by an expert commission at the Court of Thessalonica, the continuation of the construction on the mentioned land is unlawful.