Greece not taking positive steps on minority issue, says Turkish minister

KOMOTINI - Cihan News Agency

Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, who is currently paying a visit to Greece. AA photo

Greece has yet to take a positive step on meeting the demands of the country’s Muslim minority, according to Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, who is currently paying a visit to the neighboring country.

Müezzinoğlu, who was born in Greece, said he did not expect a short-term solution to the issue. “Unfortunately Greece has not taken a positive step on the problems of minorities so far. We have observed the good intention in talks but in practice we haven’t seen any action,” Müezzinoğlu said in the Komotini province of western Thrace. 

The minister said that in the past, there were strong governments in power but that parties in the current coalition were unable to solve problems.

Turkey has long demanded that Greece allow Muslims in western Thrace to choose their own religious leaders and permit the construction of a mosque in Athens.