Türkiye on Sunday condemned Greece’s decision to close eight primary schools serving the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, describing the move as a violation of the Treaty of Lausanne.
In a statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said Greece had decided to shut the schools on the grounds of insufficient student enrollment, reducing the total number of minority primary schools in Western Thrace to 76.
Keceli also criticised what he described as new obstacles to first-grade admissions at the 1st Turkish Minority Primary School of Xanthi, calling the measures another example of systematic efforts to undermine the educational rights of the Turkish minority in the region.
“These oppressive decisions and practices constitute a violation of the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne,” he said.
Keceli urged Greece to fulfil its international obligations on minority rights and fundamental human rights.
He also called on Athens to implement international court rulings concerning the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, as well as recommendations made by leading European institutions.
“Türkiye will continue to firmly support the Turkish minority in Western Thrace in its struggle to protect its rights and legal status,” Keceli added.