(Kathimerini) Greece’s foreign ministry reacted strongly Sunday to repeated statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu referring to a “Turkish minority” during his Sunday visit to Thrace by accusing him of repeatedly distorting reality.
Cavusoglu, who has arrived in Athens, visited earlier Sunday, among others, a minority school, the tomb of Sadik Ahmet, once a member of Parliament and the head of an openly pro-Turkish party, as well as the Turkish-backed muftis of the cities of Komotini and Xanthi, whom Greece does not recognize, having appointed others on those posts.
Greece regards the minority in Thrace as religious, pointing out the diverse ethnic backgrounds of its members, while Turkey insists on referring to it as an ethnic Turkish minority, in contravention of the Treaty of Lausanne, which the ministry reminded Turkey of its obligation to implement.
