During his visit to Greece, Foreign Minister Babacan also went to Western Thrace, where he stated to the Turkish minority living in that region that it was natural for them to fully benefit from the rights bestowed on them by the Lausanne Treaty, to which Greece is also a party, and conveyed his thoughts to this effect. The Minister also emphazised that the Turkish minority members could benefit, like all other Greek citizens, from the rights emanating from being EU citizens. The remarks of our Minister should be regarded within this context.

In fact, it is known by everyone that our minorities constitute a bridge of friendship between the two countries.