Erdogan accuses Greece of violating the Lausanne Treaty

[NewYorkExpress]

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkeys-erdogan-rails-greece-muslim-minority-rights-87324972

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday criticized Greece for allegedly violating a settlement that has governed relations between the rivals for nearly a century.

In a statement released on the 99th anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty, Erdogan accused Athens of undermining the rights of the Muslim minority in Greece’s Thrace region. Muslims in Thrace make up about 32% of the province’s population and consist of ethnic Turks, Roma and Bulgarian-speaking Pomaks.

“The conditions registered in the treaty, especially the rights of the Turkish minority, have been ignored or deliberately eroded,” the nationalist leader said. “It is not possible for our country to accept this situation, which is incompatible with good neighborly relations and loyalty to the treaty.”

The 1923 treaty was signed by the new Republic of Turkey to settle disputes with the Allies, including Greece, following World War I and the Turkish War of Independence.

It outlined the rights of the remaining Muslim minority in Greece and Christians in Turkey after a bitter conflict between the countries, which was followed by a population exchange. It also set out conditions for Greek rule of the Aegean islands that lie off Turkey’s coast.

Ankara has recently complained that Greece has violated the treaty by militarizing the islands. Athens says it is acting according to international law and is defending its territory in the face of constant Turkish hostility.

On Friday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the closure of four Muslim minority schools in Thrace, saying it demonstrated “discriminatory and oppressive policies” by the Greek government.

[SnowLabrador]

Turkey will invade Greece pretty soon. Book it.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

On the basic question of how Muslims are treated in Thrace, it's pretty clear Erdogan is quite correct.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have varied immensely in their overall tenor (Greece sent aid in the wake of the Izmit quake of 1999; things by no means have always been like this), but in this time of tensions, it is very irresponsible for the Greek government to take such a provocative approach.
Turkey is far from blameless in the recent phase of higher-than-normal tensions, but Greece disrespecting its Muslim minority must count against it.

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

On the basic question of how Muslims are treated in Thrace, it's pretty clear Erdogan is quite correct.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have varied immensely in their overall tenor (Greece sent aid in the wake of the Izmit quake of 1999; things by no means have always been like this), but in this time of tensions, it is very irresponsible for the Greek government to take such a provocative approach.
Turkey is far from blameless in the recent phase of higher-than-normal tensions, but Greece disrespecting its Muslim minority must count against it.

It would be far more easily take seriously if Erdogan apologised for Turkey's treatment of the Constantinople greeks(which no longer even exist as a coherent community). Ohterwise it's a black hole calling the pot black.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

On the basic question of how Muslims are treated in Thrace, it's pretty clear Erdogan is quite correct.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have varied immensely in their overall tenor (Greece sent aid in the wake of the Izmit quake of 1999; things by no means have always been like this), but in this time of tensions, it is very irresponsible for the Greek government to take such a provocative approach.
Turkey is far from blameless in the recent phase of higher-than-normal tensions, but Greece disrespecting its Muslim minority must count against it.

It would be far more easily take seriously if Erdogan apologised for Turkey's treatment of the Constantinople greeks(which no longer even exist as a coherent community). Ohterwise it's a black hole calling the pot black.

Unfortunately, I don't think either side cares much about giving apologies. Moreover, both countries have a very proud posture that sinks that mere idea in an instant. And yes, this a criticism of both parties here - which would rather have this fire burn to distract from rather pressing contemporary issues.

This kind of play-hostilities is a sort of racket and it's a game the political class plays for their own reasons. Sometimes, what is best for the political class isn't the best for the country and vice versa.

Of course, Ankara and Athens are currently locked into what's more than just a play-fight (Rutte vs Erdogan in, say, 2017, was such a thing per excellence). Neither player here is purely reactive or proactive in its posture, and they are both pushing the envelope first and foremost for distraction reasons but far from just that. Politicians do not mainly compete with you and me but rather among themselves for influence and power.

Hopefully something can be mediated. Biden or maybe Schulz or some major NATO leader going out and ironing some kind of deal...Greece is prevented from impeding the Turkish Navy's ability to operate (changes to the Law of the Sea made things dicier in the Aegean - long story), Turkey and Greece both agree not to undermine each other, and both countries dial down tensions more generally...
Is that too much to ask for?

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

On the basic question of how Muslims are treated in Thrace, it's pretty clear Erdogan is quite correct.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have varied immensely in their overall tenor (Greece sent aid in the wake of the Izmit quake of 1999; things by no means have always been like this), but in this time of tensions, it is very irresponsible for the Greek government to take such a provocative approach.
Turkey is far from blameless in the recent phase of higher-than-normal tensions, but Greece disrespecting its Muslim minority must count against it.

It would be far more easily take seriously if Erdogan apologised for Turkey's treatment of the Constantinople greeks(which no longer even exist as a coherent community). Ohterwise it's a black hole calling the pot black.

The issue there is both Greece and Turkey were complicit in ethnic cleansing their own sides (population transfer) - the expulsion of Greeks from Anatolia was endorsed by the Greek government.

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

On the basic question of how Muslims are treated in Thrace, it's pretty clear Erdogan is quite correct.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have varied immensely in their overall tenor (Greece sent aid in the wake of the Izmit quake of 1999; things by no means have always been like this), but in this time of tensions, it is very irresponsible for the Greek government to take such a provocative approach.
Turkey is far from blameless in the recent phase of higher-than-normal tensions, but Greece disrespecting its Muslim minority must count against it.

It would be far more easily take seriously if Erdogan apologised for Turkey's treatment of the Constantinople greeks(which no longer even exist as a coherent community). Ohterwise it's a black hole calling the pot black.

The issue there is both Greece and Turkey were complicit in ethnic cleansing their own sides (population transfer) - the expulsion of Greeks from Anatolia was endorsed by the Greek government.

Yes the mutual ethnic cleansing was agreed on both sides, but exceptions were agreed in the Lausanne Treaty for Istanbul Greeks and Thrace Turks exempting them from ethnic cleansing.

Greece mostly honoured their promise in the treaty and the there remains a substansial Turkish population in Thrace while Turkey completely failed to uphold their own promise to the point that there remains no effective greek population in Istanbul anymore due to a combination of asset confiscation and porogroms abetted by the Turkish goverment.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Erdogan accuses a lot of people of a lot of things. This is a Boy Who Cried Wolf-kind situation.

[Estrella]

Looking forward to listening to this shxt for the next eleven months –_–

[CumbrianLefty]

Turkey will invade Greece pretty soon. Book it.

Well with your past prediction record, I suddenly feel more optimistic about this one.