Double standard reaction from Western Thrace Turks to Athens

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks of Europe described Greece's statements regarding the Greek minority in Albania as a double standard and Western Thrac...

Scraper SystemJune 05, 2026, 10:57 AM

Double standard reaction from Western Thrace Turks to Athens

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks of Europe responded with criticism of double standards to Greece's statements regarding the Greek minority in Albania. The statement argued that Athens ignores its own practices within its borders while calling on neighboring countries about minority rights.

In the federation's assessment, it was recalled that the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement following the injury of a person of Greek origin during protests against a planned tourism investment in a protected ecological area in the Svernek region of Albania. It was reported that Athens demanded clarification of the incident and said that Albania should respect the rule of law, property rights, and the protection of the rights of the Greek minority.

The statement expressed that Greece's reaction as the homeland of the Greek minority in Albania is understandable, but linking this incident to Albania's European Union membership process and the rule of law is not convincing.

Emphasis on Western Thrace Turks and Macedonian minority

The federation stated that although Greece has been a member of the European Union since 1981, it does not recognize the ethnic identity and existence of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority and the Macedonian minority living within its borders. The statement also drew attention to the country's failure to implement European Court of Human Rights decisions.

The text noted that the European Court of Human Rights decision regarding the Macedonian House of Culture has not been implemented for 28 years, and the Bekir Usta and Others Case Group decisions concerning Western Thrace Turkish associations have not been fulfilled for 18 years.

Call to neighboring countries, criticism of own practices

The statement emphasized that Greece should review its own practices before directing criticisms to neighboring countries about minority rights. It called for the recognition of the existence of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority and the Macedonian minority and the securing of the rights of Greek citizens belonging to these communities.

This reaction transferred the debate, which started with Greece's assessment of the Greek minority in Albania, to the issue of the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace. Thus, the issue ceased to be merely a foreign policy statement and turned into a broader criticism of Greece's minority policies.

Double standard reaction from Western Thrace Turks to Athens

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks of Europe described Greece's statements regarding the Greek minority in Albania as a double standard and Western Thrac...