Ankara seeks to promote ‘independence for Western Thrace’

10.2.2020

Question for written answer E-000804/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Ioannis Lagos (NI)

On Saturday 8 February, in a further act of provocation calculated to destabilise Thrace, the annual general assembly of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association (BTTDD) was held in the Turkish city of Bursa and attended by Muslim mayors representing this minority community. The Turkish-speaking mayors of Arriana and Iasmos, Amet Rietvan and Onder Mumin, were knowingly taking part in an event organised by an irredentist association seeking independence for Western Thrace in an area full of Turkish flags and flags of ‘Independent Western Thrace. It is, moreover, no secret that they have open channels of communication with the Turkish Consulate in Komotini and with extreme nationalist organisations in Turkey and miss no opportunity to encourage Turkey’s expansionist aspirations in Thrace.

In view of this:

1. What steps will the Commission take to curb these acts of provocation by Turkey and protect the non-negotiable territorial integrity of Greece in Thrace?

2. How many infringements of international law and treaties must Turkey commit for accession negotiations to be halted definitively?