Ankara raises concerns about treatment of Turkish minority in Greece

Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Tanju Bilgiç said in a written statement on Wednesday that Greece should respect minority ethnic identities, and should lift the ban on non governmental organizations (NGOs) with "Turk" in their name, in alignment with the decision from the European Court of Human Rights.

Bilgiç emphasized that these problems should be taken care of within the frame of bilateral and international agreements, as well as universal human rights.

Greek high-level officials recently stated that Turks of Western Thrace, whom have been labelled as "Muslim minorities," have benefited from all the rights granted by Greece, going so far as to suggest that these minorities should focus on fulfilling their own obligations to the Greek government.