The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on 14 April 2026 in response to recent comments from Turkey regarding the Muslim minority in the region of Western Thrace.
In its announcement, the ministry reiterated that the Treaty of Lausanne clearly defines the minority in Western Thrace as religious in nature. It emphasized that the treaty remains fully binding and forms a cornerstone of international legal agreements governing the region.
Equal Rights and Legal Framework
The statement underlined that Greece, as a European state governed by the rule of law, operates within its constitutional framework and fully applies international human rights conventions.
It further stressed that the country respects and protects the religious beliefs and cultural characteristics of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, highlighting that its members are Greek citizens who enjoy full equality before the law.
According to the ministry, equal treatment and citizenship rights are an integral part of Greece’s democratic system and align with broader European legal principles.
Concluding its statement, the Foreign Ministry noted that repeated statements of this nature do not contribute to legal clarity or to building trust and good neighborly relations. It called for respect of international agreements and adherence to principles of peaceful coexistence between neighboring countries
