Turkish elementary schools closed in Greece. How did Ankara react?

Ankara condemns Greece's decision to close eight elementary schools of the Turkish minority in the Western Thrace region.

This was stated by the official representative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oncu Keceli.

The diplomat noted that this step violates the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne.

The Greek authorities decided to close the schools on the pretext of an insufficient number of students. As a result, the total number of elementary schools for the Turkish minority in Western Thrace will decrease to 76.

Keceli also criticized the creation of new obstacles to enrollment in the elementary school of the Turkish minority in the city of Xanthi. He noted that such measures are "another example of a systematic policy aimed at infringing on the right to education of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace."

"Such discriminatory decisions and actions constitute a violation of the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne," the representative of the Turkish foreign ministry emphasized.

The diplomat called on Athens to fulfill its international obligations in the field of protecting minority rights and fundamental human rights.
"We once again call on Greece, which continues to ignore the decisions of international judicial instances that have recorded violations of the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, as well as the recommendations of leading European institutions, to act in accordance with its treaty obligations in the field of protecting minority rights and fundamental human rights," Keceli stated.

According to him, Turkey will continue to resolutely support the Turkish minority in Western Thrace in its struggle to protect its rights and legal status.

Source: Anadolu