Türkiye has expressed strong disapproval of Greece’s recent decision to shut down eight Turkish minority primary schools in Western Thrace. The Turkish Foreign Ministry views this action as an attempt to undermine the educational framework supporting the Turkish community, citing low enrollment figures as a mere excuse.
Violation of Treaty Obligations
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli emphasized that the closures reduce the available Turkish minority primary schools in the region to just 76. He stated, “We condemn Greece’s decision to close schools under the pretext of insufficient student numbers.” This reaction is rooted in concerns that such closures violate the terms of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. This agreement defines the rights of the Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace and the Greek Orthodox minority in Istanbul, and its interpretation has historically been a source of tension between the two nations.
Keceli contends that the recent school closures, along with challenges surrounding first-grade enrollment at the No. 1 Turkish Minority Primary School in Xanthi, highlight ongoing violations of minority rights. The Treaty of Lausanne is key in shaping the legal framework for minority protections, and disputes over its application have strained bilateral relations for decades.
Systematic Erosion of Rights
Keceli described the difficulties faced by students at the Xanthi school as indicative of a broader trend aimed at diminishing the educational rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace. He characterized the latest closures not merely as administrative actions but as part of a carefully orchestrated campaign against the community’s rights. Türkiye has urged Greece to adhere to international court rulings that have highlighted violations concerning the Turkish minority, urging compliance with recommendations from prominent European institutions that Athens has yet to implement.
Commitment to Minority Rights
In response to the unfolding situation, Keceli reiterated Türkiye’s firm commitment to support the rights of the Western Thrace Turkish minority. “We once again call on Greece to act in accordance with its treaty obligations concerning minority and fundamental human rights,” he stated firmly. The Turkish minority in Western Thrace, numbering between 100,000 and 150,000, primarily follows the Muslim faith and resides within the northeastern Greek territory adjacent to Türkiye and Bulgaria.
This community consistently voices its concerns regarding restrictions on education, religious liberties, and political representation, which Greece either minimizes or disputes. Conversely, Greece has raised similar issues regarding the treatment of its own Orthodox Christian minority residing in Istanbul. With dialogue between the two countries perpetually marked by contention, the situation for minority rights remains a difficult and complex issue ripe for continued international scrutiny.