Ankara is triggered by a new outbreak of tension in Greek -Turkish relations, on the occasion of the anniversary of the “Turkish Union of Xanthi”. The Turkish Foreign Ministry, through its official posting on a social networking platform, spoke of the 98th anniversary of the organization, describing it as the oldest of the “Turkish Minority of Western Thrace”.
This is followed by the Folk Turkish Rhetoric that challenges the character of the Muslim minority in Greece, attempting to present it as … national Turkish. In addition, the reference to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the name of the Union is interpreted as an attempt to exert pressure in Greece to change attitude to an issue judged by the Greek justice.
Happy 98th anniversary of the Xanthi Turkish Union, the oldest non -governmental organization of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority!
In accordance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, we support the justified efforts and honorable struggle of the Union to use its own name. pic.twitter.com/Wl6Famh5D0
– TC Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@TC_Disisleri) April 14, 2025
The move by the Turkish Foreign Minister has sparked a strong reaction of Athens, which consistently rejects the disputes of Greek sovereignty and the characterization of the Muslim minority as Turkish.
“The Treaty of Lausanne is clear and explicitly refers to a religious rather than a national minority in Thrace,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, commenting on a Turkish post on the Muslim minority in Thrace.
The Foreign Minister points out that the Greek state fully respects the religious beliefs and cultural particularities of the Muslim minority in Thrace and concludes: “It reserves, to Greek citizens, members of the minority, complete equality and equality.”