A new challenge from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which once again speaks of a “Turkish minority” in Western Thrace and accuses Greece of violating the Treaty of Lausanne, on the occasion of the suspension of eight minority primary schools due to the small number of students.

In a statement, the representative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oncu Ketseli, states:

“We condemn Greece’s decision to close eight more primary schools belonging to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, on the grounds of an insufficient number of students. With this latest decision, the number of minority primary schools is now reduced to 76.

The creation of new obstacles to the registration of the first grade in the 1st Turkish Minority Primary School of Xanthi is yet another example of the systematic practices aimed at the gradual weakening of the educational rights of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.

The specific decisions and practices constitute a violation of the provisions of the Lausanne Peace Treaty.

We call once again on Greece, which continues to avoid the implementation of the decisions of international courts that find violations of rights against the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, as well as the recommendations of the main European institutions, to act in accordance with its contractual obligations regarding the rights of minorities and fundamental human rights.

Turkey will continue to resolutely support the struggle of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace to defend its rights and legitimate interests.”