Venizelos Answers To Concerns About Pomaks in N.Greece

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Efforts to alter or impose a specific cultural identity are unacceptable and are going to be dealt within the framework of the law, Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in a document presented to Parliament on Monday, following a question on allegations that "Pomaks are denouncing attempts to turn them into Turks, through bribes."

Venizelos replied in writing to Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) MP Christos Pappas, who according to the State News Agency quoted the 2012 Human Rights Report of Greece as saying that members of the Pomak community in northern Greece claimed that "members of the Turkish minority pressured (and are pressuring) them to deny their Pomak identity as being separate from the Turkish one. Pomaks claimed that members of their community were given monetary incentives to self-identify as Turks."

     "Such reports are always studied by the Foreign and other related ministries and services, and are evaluated overall within the framework of international relationships," the Foreign minister said.
     "References and conclusions related to the Muslim minority in Thrace in the above report show the efforts by certain circles to impose the cultural identity of the largest group of the Muslim minority (those of Turkish origin) on specific cultural groups, that is, on Pomaks and Roma," he added.
     "The cultural or other unique features of the three groups of the minority, including the Pomaks and Roma, are absolutely respected," Venizelos asserted. "Every group can freely develop - through its cultural or other associations, publications, etc. - initiatives and actions to preserve and promote its beliefs and customs, traditions and in general its unique cultural features, as befits a free and democratic country."

As he clarified it, "Efforts to alter or impose a specific cultural identity on them are unacceptable and are dealt with in the framework of the law."

Venizelos underscored the fact Greece is consistently observing its obligations, as they are defined by the Lausanne Treaty and related international laws, following a policy of full equality and equal treatment before the law, with absolute respect of the rights and religious freedom of Muslims.

"The effort to deal with problems of the minority, in order for it to become better incorporated in local and national frameworks and for its well being is continuous, within the freamwork of a cohesive and multi-faceted policy," he added.