Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stirred controversy on Saturday, June 21, with remarks about Thrace, the Dodecanese, and Cyprus during the 51st Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.
Fidan referred to the Muslim minority in Thrace as “Turkish” and claimed they, along with the “Turkish population of the Dodecanese,” face “serious violations” of basic rights and freedoms in Greece.
He called on the OIC to ensure their national identity, religious education, and cultural rights are respected.
On Cyprus, Fidan reiterated Ankara’s position, stating: “There are two peoples and two states on the island of Cyprus,” and urged OIC members to support the Turkish Cypriots, whom he said continue to suffer from “unjust and inhumane isolation.”
Greece’s Foreign Ministry firmly rejected Fidan’s assertions, calling them “unfounded and contrary to international law.”
It emphasised that the Treaty of Lausanne defines the minority in Thrace as religious, not ethnic, and reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to protecting their rights as equal Greek and EU citizens.
The ministry also criticised Fidan’s Cyprus comments, stating they “do not contribute to efforts to build trust” and reaffirmed Greece’s support for a resolution based on binding UN Security Council decisions.
