Upon arrival at the Association President Mustafa Ali Cavus was greeted by Association President Kadir Ahmet, board members and a crowd. During the visit the President was accompanied by Secretary General Aydin Ahmet.

President Mustafa Ali Cavus addressed the people at the Netherlands Hague Western Thrace Turks Unity and Solidarity Association’s centre. In his speech he stated ‘the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority was entrusted to our country Greece with an international treaty, the Lausanne Treaty in which the rights of the minority are very clear. However, malicious governments want to deprive minority members of these rights by enacting laws without consulting with the minority and usurping the minority’s rights. Recently, institutions and their board members which have voiced these injustices have been subjected to unfounded allegations and pressures with investigations initiated against them. The purpose of these investigations is to intimidate and frightening the minority who are seeking their rights arising from the Lausanne Treaty. We have stated many times that a referendum is a democratic solution for our rights and identity, however until today we have not received a response to this call. For many years, minority members have not been given jobs in the public sector with doors being kept closed and so youth are finding a remedy by going abroad to work. We will continue our quest for our rights all the time and Western Thrace Turks no matter where should be lock in unity. I also underline that it is when we are in unity that we gain; therefore it is necessary that we maintain our unity and solidarity. I thank you for listening patiently.

The meeting was also attended by the Western Thrace Turks Cultural Solidarity Association President Ibrahim Pasali and its board members.