The document characterises Cyprus as “defunct”, a phrase that angered a Cypriot MEP who charactireised the report as "provocative" and called for the resignation of the Greek Foreign Minister and presiding minister at the EU, Evangellos Venizelos, for “unacceptable inertia” in rebuffing the Turks.
The controversial phrase used in the Turkish document states:
Until a final and equitable solution to the Cyprus question is found, the accession of the Greek Cypriots to any international organization cannot be considered favorably by Turkey. Accomodating Greek Cypriot demands to accede to international organizations would only reinforce their false claim to represent the defunct “Republic of Cyprus” and distract them from the settlement aim.
The document also refers to the “Turkish minority in Western Thrace”, a reference that has previously strained relations between Athens and Ankara.
It says that the minority face denial of their ethnic minority.
The exact phrase used is:
Despite being EU citizens, Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace face with the denial of ethnic identity; non-recognition of elected Muftis; interference in religious autonomy expropriation and confiscation of huge amounts of private and community properties, lack of equal education opportunities as well as minority kindergartens; loss of 60.000 Greek citizenship by means of defunct Article 19 of the Greek Citizenship Law. The situation is far worse for the communities of Turkish origin of the Dodacanese whose minority status is being denied.
Source: www.enikos.gr
Read pdf by clicking HERE
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