Growing tensions with Greece were on the agenda of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as remarks he made to journalists during a recent visit to Syria were published on Wednesday.

Fidan was wary of Greece’s defense alliance with Türkiye’s chief adversary, Israel, and urged Athens to abstain from being a pawn of “those seeking to destabilize the region, those seeking to drive it to chaos.” He added that Ankara sought good, neighborly relations with Greece.

Türkiye and Greece are pursuing a rapprochement in relations after decades of hostilities, but several issues, particularly a maritime border dispute, are viewed as hindrances to improving ties. Greece views the dispute as a security threat, something top officials in Athens often underline and use to justify boosting defense spending.

Most recently, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized Greece’s “inalienable right” to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean earlier this month, days after his country signed a historic defense deal with Israel. Experts say this newfound confidence could upset the relative calm. The defense deal, part of the “Achilles Shield” defense system, similar to Türkiye’s Steel Dome, involves Israel supplying Greece with the David’s Sling and SPYDER systems, as well as the BARAK MX system made by Israel Aerospace Industries, along with MMR multimission radars for air surveillance manufactured by IAI unit ELTA Systems. David’s Sling was used by Israel to intercept Iranian missiles during the war with Iran this year. Greece becomes the second customer for the system after Finland. Athens plans to spend about 28 billion euros ($32.52 billion) by 2036 to build the Achilles Shield multilayered anti-ballistic, anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, and to buy up to 40 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. and frigates from France and Italy.

Fidan said any “misunderstanding” with Greece regarding security matters should be “clarified.”

The top diplomat also underlined Türkiye’s “sensitivity” about the militarization of the Aegean islands. “We conveyed these concerns to Greece. Armament of demilitarized islands is a threat for us,” he said, adding that these developments may be associated with the ongoing election process in Greece.

“An anti-Türkiye attitude is historically common in Greek politics,” he added.

Greece is scheduled to hold its next elections in 2027, while opinion polls show it may be a tight race for Mitsotakis’ ruling New Democracy Party.

Türkiye opposes any Greek military deployment on the eastern Aegean islands, arguing that they should remain demilitarized under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty. Greece, however, cites a “threat” from Türkiye and says it has the right under international law to defend its sovereignty. The two countries have recently been at odds over the declaration of marine parks to preserve marine biodiversity, with both accusing each other of attempting to violate their maritime borders.

Fidan said their attention had concentrated on “some efforts by Greece in violation of their liabilities defined by treaties on the islands demilitarized under international agreements, the islands where this demilitarized status should be undisputedly preserved.” He noted that this issue dated back to the 1960s and constituted a significant portion of interlinked issues related to the Aegean Sea. He added that Türkiye had demonstrated a “necessary reaction” since the 1960s and issued warnings and objections to Greece through “bilateral channels” when necessary. At other times, Türkiye underlined its position in NATO and took the matter to the United Nations.

“We expect our neighbor, our ally Greece, to act in accordance with the spirit of alliance, to act maturely in compliance with its liabilities. As we are engulfed by many security challenges in our region, Greece should avoid adding a new one to these challenges,” he said, urging Athens to build upon the “positive atmosphere recently maintained” between the two countries.

Israel’s Syria threat

Fidan also spoke about Israel’s incursions into Syria after the fall of the Assad regime in 2024.

Israel currently poses the greatest potential threat to Syria’s stability, he stated. As developments in Syria move in a positive direction, Israel takes “destabilizing actions,” Fidan said.

“Extremely critical developments are taking place in our region. During this process, we are increasing our contacts with Syria. We wanted to pay a two-day visit here. We have many issues to discuss,” he said. He said the overnight visit was also an indication that life in Syria is beginning to return to normal. “We had a meeting with President (Ahmed) Al-Sharaa that lasted about two hours. We discussed all issues,” said Fidan.

“The threat with the greatest potential to destabilize Syria at the moment is Israel. Thankfully, other issues concerning Syria have been moving in a positive direction for the past two years. They have been removed from the sanctions list, and there are no obstacles to economic investment. Their removal from the terrorism list was also extremely important.”

Fidan said that Syria needs time and has significant potential if stability is accompanied by good governance.

“But Israel doesn’t particularly like neighboring countries being strong and stable. It sees this as a threat to itself. Because of how it defines this threat, it engages in destabilizing actions against these countries,” he said. “Syria, however, wants to live in peace in its region. At some point, Israel will either recognize this approach and accept living in peace with its region, or it will continue these aggressive policies and become even more isolated within the international community.”

“(Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu sees all the countries around Israel as threats. Israel is a country that derives its own strength from the weakness of those countries,” Fidan added.

Fidan said the first priority for Syria is for the SDF group to cease being a threat and no longer be a hostile element. He was referring to another name used for the U.S.-backed YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK, which was once a major security threat for Türkiye. The YPG claimed to fight for the autonomy of Kurds in Syria during the Syrian civil war. The SDF announced its dissolution in August, while its leader Ferhat Abdi Şahin was appointed as an adviser to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The dissolution was part of an earlier deal between Damascus and the group for the integration of YPG members into the Syrian army.

“The elements announced in principle currently contain positive messages. We are closely following how the process proceeds in practice. We expect implementation to be consistent with the messages announced to the public,” Fidan said.

Fidan also said that the progress achieved so far could be expanded. “We know the existing threats and the path that needs to be followed. There is an ongoing path. We must continue along this path of success. After the regime fell on Dec. 8, I said that everything had only just begun,” he said, referring to the end of the Assad regime in December 2024.

“At the point we have reached, positive things are happening both tactically and strategically. Many problems that have shackled us for 40 to 50 years, particularly the issue of terrorism, essentially originated from Syria and Iraq.”

Fidan said that after the Justice and Development (AK) Party came to power, Ankara, under the will and vision set out by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has addressed its domestic political and economic issues while rebuilding its strategic and security culture in terms of external developments.

“We established a security paradigm that responds to today’s needs. We managed to appropriately resolve our problems originating from neighboring countries. However, our work on this issue is not finished. We will continue to work and make efforts,” he added.

Türkiye, in the meantime, pursues its own process for the dissolution of the PKK. The PKK agreed to dissolve itself in 2025 as part of the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative supported by the government. The process is ongoing, and Türkiye introduced a law for deferrals of prison time for PKK members not involved in acts of terrorism, in a bid to speed up the process. Fidan was recently in Diyarbakır, a predominantly Kurdish city in southeastern Türkiye that heavily suffered from PKK terrorism in the past and was also the launchpad of a historic protest by families of PKK members calling on them to surrender to authorities.

Fidan said his visit showed that the process has gained broad acceptance.

“We saw that the objective put forward by ‘terror-free Türkiye’ has been embraced. We met with numerous NGOs and people from different political viewpoints. The (PKK) group’s declaration that it would lay down its arms has created great satisfaction among the public,” he said.

“An understanding has now emerged that issues should be discussed without weapons. People want economic issues and development to come to the forefront. In our meetings, we discussed issues such as how the region’s industry can be developed, what steps should be taken on infrastructure, where border crossings are needed, and how trade with neighboring countries can be increased.”

Fidan said that there had already been no major negative developments on the ground for the past five or six years, but permanently ending the matter would allow major investments to enter the region without fear.

“People particularly attach importance to the fact that the denial of (Kurdish) identity was eliminated under the AK Party,” he said. “After the September 2013 Democratization Package paved the way for elective language courses in Türkiye, the issue of denial of identity, which had been a problem area for Kurds, was resolved.”

The PKK sought to justify its campaign of violence since the 1980s by claiming to fight for a self-styled “Kurdistan” in the southeast and lured disillusioned Kurdish youth to its ranks under the guise of fighting for their rights.

Mecca alliance

Fidan also said that efforts to institutionalize the new “Mecca alliance” are continuing, with the three countries that formed the group last month, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, holding talks at the technical level.

“We are discussing issues such as what the structure of the headquarters will look like and how many people will serve in each unit. This process is about to be completed. Our aim is to expand the Mecca alliance. The steps to be taken from now on will be more concrete,” he said.

Fidan said that attacks on Saudi Arabia from either the south or the north, including attacks by actors based in Iraq, are unacceptable.

On the long-standing conflict in Yemen and military moves by the Houthi group there, he said: “The Yemen issue has existed for quite some time and has taken various forms. When the situation turns into an effort to encircle (Saudi Arabia) from the north and south, destroy critical infrastructure, and harm not only Saudi Arabia but the region, it is impossible for anyone to remain indifferent.”

“We are acting in accordance with the spirit of the Mecca alliance. We have already declared that we stand with the Saudis. We have also conveyed the necessary messages to the other relevant parties. We are acting in solidarity.”

He also said that the joint efforts of regional countries, particularly on Gaza, have produced important results.

“We have analyzed developments in a highly professional manner through cooperation and solidarity. We also used our cooperation there in Syria. Now we are using this cooperation in the Iran-U.S. war as well, and we are increasingly institutionalizing it.”

“We are making an effort based on cooperation and peaceful diplomacy in the face of Israel’s destabilizing role in the region. God willing, the seed we have planted in the region will sprout and grow. If this constructive understanding grows, a larger zone of stability will emerge.”

Fidan cautioned, however, that actors seeking instability in the region, particularly Israel, could take other steps.

“They will not remain idle; they will also take action,” he said. “But countries in the region see that stability is possible, that something can be achieved if we work together, and that there is no alternative to working together. Either we work together and solve the problems, or, as in the previous approach, we go to the hegemon or the hegemon’s representative here and say: ‘Don’t touch me, burn wherever you want.’”

“But every place that is set on fire eventually burns you too. Jordan, for example, is affected by everything that happens in Iraq and everything that happens in Syria. There’s no place to hide. So everyone is seeking cooperation in this very intense new period.”

Fidan said that Erdoğan’s efforts to set out a vision, demonstrate leadership and use his relationships to bring actors together had generated confidence in the process.

“Since this is something that has not been seen before, people frankly trust this process,” he said.

Authorities announced the capture of 39 suspects in counterterrorism operations in Istanbul and nine cities on Tuesday. Suspects were linked to far-left terrorist groups.

Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office coordinated the probe that led to operations by counterterrorism units of the Istanbul police. The probe was based on testimonies by suspects detained in earlier operations.

Authorities issued arrest warrants for 52 suspects, including 44 from the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP), four from TIKKO, the armed wing of the outlawed group Communist Party of Türkiye/Marxist Leninist (TKP-ML), three suspects from Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSIH) and one suspect from Maoist Communist Party (MKP). Three suspects remain at large, eight others were discovered to have fled abroad earlier and two others were already in prison on other offenses.

The suspects were detained in operations in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Diyarbakır, Mersin, Muğla and Şanlıurfa. Police seized one pistol and munitions during the raids to capture the suspects, along with propaganda material of the terrorist groups.

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Speaking at a joint news conference with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Ukraine-Russia conflict spreading into Black Sea threatened the safety of Turkish citizens, describing the situation as unacceptable.

Fidan said they discussed how the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected the broader region in his talks with Bayramov, noting that the civilian casualties and devastation were growing in the conflict that has continued for more than four years.

Underlining that the escalation of the war has also seriously affected the Black Sea basin, Fidan recalled that they had made major efforts since the beginning of the crisis to keep the Black Sea outside the conflict.

Fidan noted that they had succeeded in this objective until recently by meticulously implementing the Montreux Convention and launching the Black Sea Grain Initiative. “However, the increasing attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea in recent months have seriously undermined the security of life, property, navigation and the environment in the region. Unfortunately, Turkish and Azerbaijani sailors have also lost their lives in these attacks. The spread of the war into the Black Sea and the threat it poses to the lives of our citizens and the operations of our companies is not an acceptable situation,” he added.

Fidan also said they had issued the necessary warnings to the parties on the matter, adding that they believed common ground for an agreement could be found if the necessary political will was demonstrated and the parties acted in good faith.

Fidan said they had recently stepped up their efforts to reach an agreement and were also taking the necessary initiatives to bring the war to an end.

Referring to President Erdoğan’s oft-repeated statement that “even the worst peace is better than war itself,” Fidan said: “As Türkiye, we will continue to make every effort for peace.”

He said that following talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, the parties had come very close to signing a peace agreement but had failed to finalize it. He said Türkiye had made efforts to bring the two sides together in the country on numerous occasions, both publicly and behind closed doors. Underlining that the continuation of the war was harming not only the region but also the global economy, Fidan recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump had cited the Russia-Ukraine war as the source of rising diesel prices.

Fidan noted that the parties had been asked to reach an understanding on not targeting energy infrastructure and to declare a moratorium, adding that the United Nations, the U.S., Türkiye and several other countries were doing everything they could on the issue.

Fidan said efforts focused particularly on the Black Sea were continuing, adding: “We are holding talks with the parties on this issue, and we have proposals. We have received responses from the parties. We are also working to reconcile these responses and bring them to a point where an understanding can be built.”

Fidan reiterated that the war had transformed over the past year from a war of attrition into a war of destruction, saying: “There is now nowhere that is not being targeted. Except for the deliberate targeting of population centers, virtually all commercial sites, infrastructure and superstructure are now being targeted. We are also seeing civilian casualties steadily increase. As a nation that knows war and warfare, we unfortunately said from the very beginning where this picture would lead.”

Drawing attention to the fact that the situation would intensify geographically, methodologically and in terms of targets, Fidan said: “It needs to stop to prevent further expansion and greater disasters. I think that after four and a half years of war, the parties have also psychologically and intellectually come closer to this point. This is precisely where mediators like us need to find the right magic formulas, words and methods to persuade the parties to reach an agreement.”

Fidan warned that otherwise energy prices, food security and the environment would face greater risks and the danger of the war spreading would increase. “From time to time, there are statements not only in the Black Sea but also in other European countries about the possibility of the war spreading there. God forbid, we do not even want to think about this, let alone talk about it. The geographical expansion of the war is the last thing we want to see,” he said.

Also speaking on the U.S.-Iran war, Fidan said safe and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz should be ensured, and mutual attacks in the Gulf countries should stop.

For his part, Bayramov said Azerbaijan and Türkiye were working in coordination on new projects with great potential for the coming decades. Noting that cooperation between the two countries was expanding into new areas, Bayramov said: “There are new projects with a very broad outlook and great potential for the coming decades. Azerbaijan and Türkiye are working on these projects in very close coordination.” Bayramov said projects in the field of alternative energy were particularly prominent among these initiatives, adding that they had discussed transporting green energy produced in Azerbaijan to Europe via the Black Sea and Türkiye’s participation in the project.

He said projects were also on the agenda to lay a new power cable through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye and Bulgaria, as well as a new power cable connecting Nakhchivan to Türkiye. “With the implementation of these projects, new routes with great potential will emerge for delivering alternative energy to not only the markets of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, with the participation of both countries in the green energy sector, but also to the European market through Türkiye.”

Bayramov recalled that the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit would be held in Türkiye next month and said he and Fidan had held productive talks as part of preparations for the summit. Noting that the OTS was of particular importance to Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Bayramov said the organization had a family structure that brought brotherly countries together. “Strengthening solidarity within the OTS and further improving coordination have always been of particular importance to Azerbaijan and Türkiye,” Bayramov said.

Expressing Azerbaijan’s full support for Türkiye, which will host COP31, as the host of COP29, Bayramov said the Azerbaijani delegation that took part in COP29 and has since been active in climate diplomacy would participate in COP31 in the most active manner. Bayramov said the Zangezur Corridor was of particular importance as a new route of the Middle Corridor connecting Azerbaijan to Türkiye and, through Türkiye, Europe to Central Asia and Asia. He said construction of new transportation infrastructure in mainland Azerbaijan was progressing rapidly. Bayramov said road construction toward the Armenian border was about 95% complete, while railway construction was about 75% complete, adding that both projects were expected to be completed in the first half of 2027. Noting that the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has about 190 kilometers of railway connections, Bayramov said the Soviet-era railway line had been almost unused for more than 30 years and that reconstruction work in the area had begun. Bayramov said the approximately 42-kilometer section of the Zangezur Corridor located in Armenian territory constituted the missing link of the route, adding that talks concerning this section were being conducted between the U.S. and Armenia.

Bayramov said completion of the project would establish a direct connection between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenia, adding that access via Nakhchivan to Türkiye and from there to the transportation link between Europe and Central Asia would be strengthened. Bayramov said this would create a new and important transportation route stretching from Europe to Central Asia via Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

Noting that Azerbaijan had identified relations with African countries as one of its priority areas, Bayramov said the number of trade and economic missions to the continent had been increased, and the number of projects carried out had grown.

Bayramov said Türkiye was one of the countries with the world’s broadest diplomatic and economic networks in Africa, adding: “Africa has great potential. It is possible to implement trilateral projects together in this area. Joint projects can be carried out between Azerbaijan, Türkiye and any African country.”

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It has been 108 years since Azerbaijan’s capital Baku was liberated from Bolshevik and Armenian gangs, but the Caucasian Islamic Army, led by a Turkish general, is still fondly remembered.

On Tuesday, people left flowers at a monument in Baku in memory of Nuri Pasha and the soldiers of the Caucasian Islamic Army. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a message commemorating the pasha and his heroes as he celebrated the liberation of Baku, “the capital of our friend, brother Azerbaijan,” from enemy occupation.

Türkiye and Azerbaijan trace the roots of their relations to a deal between newly independent Azerbaijan and the Ottoman Empire in June 1918. The agreement allowed Azerbaijan to request assistance from the Ottoman government against the threat of occupation by Armenian and Bolshevik gangs. The Ottoman government’s Minister of War, Enver Pasha, tasked his brother Nuri Pasha, an accomplished officer who had previously worked to mobilize Libyans against Italian and British forces. Nuri Pasha formed the Caucasian Islamic Army from several military units, including infantry and artillery regiments from the Palestinian front of World War I. It merged with a 1,000-strong reinforcement from the Azerbaijani Corps. After 30 hours of clashes, the 12,000-strong army liberated Baku on Sept. 15, 1918.

The army stayed in Baku for two months and left the city after the Ottomans lost the war and were forced to sign an armistice that required their military forces to withdraw to the remaining borders of the Ottoman Empire. Still, the Caucasian Islamic Army is viewed today as a key factor in ensuring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Speaking at a ceremony in Baku on the occasion, Turkish Ambassador Birol Akgün stated that the struggle the Islamic Army carried out together with its brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan was remembered with appreciation decades later. In remarks penned at the memorial dedicated to Nuri Pasha, Akgün recalled how the young commander became the architect of unshakable bonds between the two countries, “blossomed in the blood of martyrs.”

Akgün said the army’s victory was also an inspiration for the Shusha Declaration of 2021, signed by Erdoğan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, which upgraded the alliance between the two countries, as well as for Karabakh’s liberation from Armenian occupation.

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The Republican People’s Party (CHP) was officially divided in July, but the fight is not over for the two opposing camps of Türkiye’s oldest party. The CHP’s decision to withdraw from an appeal against a court verdict that ended former Chair Özgür Özel’s tenure has sparked another debate among supporters of current Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the New Party (YP), founded in July by Özel.

Özel filed an appeal against a case stemming from allegations of vote buying in a 2023 intraparty election that propelled him to power in the party. The same case cost him the chair in May and reinstated his predecessor, Kılıçdaroğlu. Things appeared to be returning to normal after a bitter row between Özel and Kılıçdaroğlu, but the case triggered another debate after the Kılıçdaroğlu administration decided to withdraw the appeal to prevent delays in what it called the congress calendar. Kılıçdaroğlu has pledged to hold a new election in the party after his reinstatement.

The case is now before the Court of Cassation. Özel’s YP, meanwhile, argues that the withdrawal would not affect the case, as the former chair is still a party to it even though he has severed all ties with the CHP.

CHP spokesperson Müslim Sarı said earlier that Özel and others in the YP had legally lost their status as parties to the case after they established the YP.

YP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Murat Emir, however, says the “absolute nullity” verdict that ended Özel’s role as chair can be overturned if the top court reviews the case. He accused the CHP of withdrawing the appeal for fear that Özel’s rights would be reinstated.

The CHP administration announced a new regular congress calendar on Sept. 10. Under the calendar, following the submission of membership lists to the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the lists will be posted for public review on Oct. 28.

The congress will be a test for Kılıçdaroğlu’s second tenure. The former chair has been quiet about his ambitions to be elected again since his reinstatement, but this week, he was openly challenged for the first time. Aytuğ Atıcı, a former lawmaker, announced that he would run for party chairperson and held talks with Kılıçdaroğlu about his intention. Atıcı told journalists after the meeting that he did not “seek permission to run” from Kılıçdaroğlu, who did not say much about his intention other than wishing him success.

Kılıçdaroğlu, on the other hand, aspires to restore the party to its heyday as the main opposition.

Turkish media outlets reported that the veteran politician will hit the road in October, seeking to reach out to the party’s dwindling support base after the party split in July.

When Kılıçdaroğlu began his ambitious campaign to “cleanse” the CHP of corruption allegedly linked to Özel’s associates, including mayors arrested on bribery charges, he was branded a “traitor” by the Özel camp, which also claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu would not even go out for fear of being booed. Kılıçdaroğlu made a few field trips over the summer and managed to attract crowds, but it may take more than that to keep the CHP intact after the YP grabbed the coveted title of “main opposition” by transferring most of the CHP’s lawmakers.

Apart from a few instances, Kılıçdaroğlu has not faced a dire reaction, and in some cases, the events he attended drew large crowds. Encouraged by this, the party launched a timetable for a congress and started appointing new figures to local branches.

In October, Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to visit Istanbul and the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Şırnak. Like Özel, he is expected to focus on economic issues during his revival campaign, a favorite subject of Özel in his efforts to bring the opposition to power. In predominantly Kurdish Diyarbakır, Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to hold talks with locals on “terror-free Türkiye,” a government-backed initiative to end the PKK’s campaign of terrorism, which has long exploited the Kurdish community under the guise of fighting for so-called Kurdish self-rule in the southeast.

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Representatives of the Western Thracian Turkish community condemned Monday an attack on the Çınar Mosque in Xanthi (Iskeçe), in Greece’s Western Thrace, after insulting messages targeting Islam and sacred values were written on an exterior wall of the mosque.

The elected Mufti’s Office of Komotini (Gümülcine) condemned the incident, saying the messages disregarded “moral and humanitarian values.”

The office said negative rhetoric targeting the religious and cultural values of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace has increased recently, warning that such acts undermine social peace and a culture of coexistence.

Xanthi lawmaker Burhan Baran also condemned the attack, saying disrespect toward places of worship was unacceptable and calling on authorities to identify those responsible and take necessary legal action.

Fellow Xanthi lawmaker Hüseyin Zeybek said the incident should not be regarded as ordinary graffiti, describing it as a provocation targeting social peace and coexistence.

Türkiye’s Consul General in Komotini Aykut Ünal visited the mosque following the incident and expressed solidarity with members of the Turkish community. He also voiced hope that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice.

The offensive messages targeting Islam and Allah were written by an unidentified person or persons on a wall near the mosque’s entrance on Sunday, Sept. 13.

The Western Thrace region, located near Greece’s northeastern border with Türkiye, is home to a substantial, centuries-old Muslim Turkish minority numbering around 150,000.

The rights of Western Thracian Turks are guaranteed under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. But over the decades, the situation has seriously deteriorated for the community, which is also economically one of the poorest in Greece.

The Western Thracian Turkish community often complains of double standards and continuing inequalities in the country, namely socioeconomic discrimination, lack of equal access to quality education for children of minorities, and political rights.

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