Papoulias calls on Turkey to meet obligations towards ethnic Greeks

[Ellinas]

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Thursday called on Turkey to meet its obligations toward the ethnic Greeks living within its borders, as well as to re-open the Orthodox seminary on the island of Halki, in the Sea of Marmara.

Papoulias, speaking in the northeastern city of Xanthi, where he arrived on Thursday to attend celebrations for the city's liberation from Ottoman rule, also referred to the role that the geographical position of Thrace could play in the region's development and improvement.

"The geographical position of Thrace, a factor that in the past contributed to its isolation and marginalisation, is today a factor that can be used to upgrade the area," Papoulias said, pointing out that Thrace could now act as a gateway and a bridge between Europe and the East.

"In a broader political and economic scale, Thrace lends itself for becoming a crossroads and a support for a wider communications network for people and goods that will organically link western Europe with the eastern Balkans and western Black Sea zone," he added.

During his visit, the president was also declared an honorary citizen of the city and attended a celebration with Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Alexandros Kontos and Macedonia-Thrace Minister Margaritis Tzimas.

He then laid a wreath at a monument to the fallen in Xanthi's central square and witnessed a school and military parade held in the city.

On Thursday afternoon, Papoulias is to visit the Porto Lagos wetlands in honour of World Animal Day.

In other statements during the visit, during a dinner at the Xanthi Officers' Club, the Greek president also referred to the Muslim minority of Thrace, stressing that Greece was a country that respected international law and international treaties.

"We believe, however, that neighbouring Turkey, which looks to European accession, is aware of its obligations toward the Greeks that are left there and of the respect due toward the religious rights of the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This respect must at last be demonstrated with the re-opening of the School of Theology on Halki and all this entails," Papoulias stressed.

Regarding the Muslim community in extreme northeast Greece, the president said integration of Muslims in the process of economic and social development and in a modern educational system "were elements of maturity so that we can pass to a new age of prosperity for all. It is here that the principles of equality before the state and the law come into play, regardless of religion, and the positive discrimination that a European country considered it necessary to provide."

ANA