Balkans | CATROGALOS: The minority in Western Thrace can define itself as it likes

The deputy of Athens, Yorgos Katrogalos, said that members of minorities in Western Thrace could define themselves as they wished.

Yiorgos Katrougalos, head of the foreign affairs department of the main opposition Syriza party and an Athenian deputy, said members of minorities in Western Thrace could define themselves as they wish.

Katrougalos also touched on Western Thrace in his speech at the event in Syros Island and organized by SIRIZA Syros.

Pointing out that the minority in Western Thrace was accepted as a Muslim minority according to the Treaty of Lausanne, Catrogalos also stated that every person had the right to define himself as he wished.

In the minority, anyone can say ‘I am new’ or ‘I am Turkish’.

In his speech, Catrogalos repeated the state’s discourse of dividing the Turks of Western Thrace into three separate ethnic divisions. He claimed that the minority consisted of people of Turkish origin, Pomaks and Gypsies. Noting that everyone has the right to define themselves as they wish, Catrogalos said, “In the minority, anyone who wishes can say ‘I am Romani’ or ‘I am Turkish.'” he said.

Our point of view on this matter is clear, said Katrogalos. According to the Treaty of Lausanne, the minority in Thrace is a Muslim minority. This does not deprive everyone of the right to identify themselves as they wish. To put it briefly, Lausanne defines the minority as a Muslim minority. We know that the minority consists of three divisions. People of Turkish, Bomax and Roma origin. Therefore, members of the minority can say “I am a Roma” or “I am a Turk”. This right has been confirmed by recent and repeated rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

“The Turkish Xanthi unit has been around since the 1930s and has never had a problem”

In his speech, Yiorgos Katrogalos also referred to the decision of the Turkish Federation Xanthi of the European Court of Human Rights. Pointing out that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights confirm the right of each individual to define himself as he wishes, Katrogalos said, “The most important example at this stage is related to the Turkish Xanthi Federation. This association has existed since the 1930s and did not pose a problem. In the 1980s and 1990s We refused to use the name of this association. However, the European Court of Human Rights told us that everyone can define themselves as they want. The decision of the European Court of Human Rights does not change the identity of the minority. Again, a minority is a religious minority, a Muslim minority. The decision of the European Court of Human Rights grants Everyone has the right to define themselves as they wish, beyond international law. Use his statements.

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