Athens Embassy of the USA Human Rights Section Official Holly Metcalf accompanied by USA Embassy and Consulate political experts Christina Rougeri and Ksenia Kosmidou visited the FEP Party Xanthi Province Branch on Monday 6th March 2017.

The visiting delegation was welcomed by FEP Party President Mustafa Ali Cavus, Acting President Ahmet Kara, Vice Presidents Ozan Ahmetoglu, Ismet Tuccar, Ramadan Duban, Raif Usta and Leyla Salihoglu, Secretary General Aydin Ahmet, CEC Members Mustafa Sargo, Ali Salihoglu and Husniye Arabacioglu.

During the meeting with the visiting delegation, issues of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority were addressed. It was stated that the minority entrusted to Greece with the International Treaty of Lausanne suffered many chronic problems which are not resolved, and no steps were taken to resolve the problems and respond to the democratic demands and expectations of the minority. It was also explained that the minority expected Greek governments to address and resolve the problems through mutual dialogue. The discussions focused mainly on issues relating to minority education and the minority’s demands in this regard. Also, the increase in racist attacks against the minority and the judicial prosecutions against minority organisations were discussed.