FUEN, MIDAS and representatives from the German and Danish minorities were in Western Thrace

The Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), the European Association of Daily Newspapers in Minority and Regional Languages (MIDAS), representatives of the Danish minority in Germany and representatives of the German minority in Denmark in partnership with the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe(ABTTF), Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (WTMUGA) and Friendship, Equality, Peace Party (FEP) carried a fact-finding mission to Western Thrace between 19 and 22 June 2014. The 16 person delegation had the opportunity to examine the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.

On Friday 20th of June, the joint delegation, after visiting the FEP Party headquarters in Komotini, had a comprehensive meeting with representatives of the Turkish minority media. The purpose of the meeting was to listen to the problems the minority press and media is facing in the field of freedom of expression. The six journalists representing MIDAS and the two PhD students in media studies noted the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority and gave examples from their experiences as minority journalists. In the afternoon the delegation, first, visited the Komotini Mayor George Petridis, who was re-elected on May 18 local elections. The delegation as well as gathering information about the workings of the municipality had the opportunity to ask questions regarding the participation of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace to the local authorities and their life experiences in the region. Afterwards the delegation visited the Harmanlik district of Komotini where they met with executives from the Harmanlik Minority Education, Culture and Sports Association. Afterwards, the Old (Eski) mosque was visited where the deputy of the Elected Mufti of Komotini Fehim Ahmet gave information about the mosque. In the evening, the delegation visited the 14. Annual Cherry Festival organised by Iasmos(Yassıköy) Municipality. FUEN President Hans Heinrich Hansen made a speech at the festival stressing the solidarity with the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.

On Saturday 21st of June, the delegation first visited WTMUGA. Afterwards they held an extensive meeting with the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Council (BTTADK) Vice-President and former Xanthi deputy Ahmet Faikoglu as well as BTTADK members, where the delegates had the opportunity to listen to the minority problems. From Komotini, the delegation went to Xanthi where they first visited FEP party Xhanti office, afterwards the Çınar Mosque at the Aşağı Mahalle district of Xanthi. Then, the delegation went to Echinos (Şahin) village where they visited village library and gathered information about the region. Finally they attended a charity fair held at the village where they had the opportunity to sample the local food and chat with the villagers.