In provocative remarks concerning Thrace, the Dodecanese, and Cyprus, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke on Saturday during his opening speech at the two-day 51st Session of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in Constantinople.
Referring to the Muslim minority in Thrace, which he described as “Turkish,” the head of Turkish diplomacy stated: “The Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace and the Turkish population of the Dodecanese in Greece face serious violations that prevent them from enjoying even the most basic rights and freedoms.
The attention of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to this issue is critical to ensure that the national identity, religious education, and cultural rights of the Turkish Muslim minority are respected by the Greek authorities.”
Regarding Cyprus, Hakan Fidan declared: “There are two peoples and two states on the island of Cyprus. As an integral part of the Islamic world, the Turkish Cypriot state is represented as an observer in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Unfortunately, the Turkish Cypriots continue to live under the unjust and inhumane isolation imposed on them for decades. We call on all members to support their inherent rights and to cooperate with them directly.”
