EDIRNE - Hasan Kusku, the Chairman of the Thrace-Balkan Turks Culture and Solidarity Association said on Friday that they wanted cooperation opportunities to be created in economic, social and cultural fields in the Balkans.
''Edirne Meeting of Parliamentarians of Balkan Countries' Turkish Communities in European Union (EU) Process'' was held the same day.
Kusku said that the protection of peace and stability in the Balkans carried great importance for Turkey, adding that the Balkans was the door of Turkey opening to Europe.
''The attitude of Turkey towards the Southeast European Countries' Cooperation Process, and Southeast European Multinational Peace Keeping Force proves the importance Turkey attributes to further improvement of its relations with Balkan countries and installation of a permanent peace in the Balkans,'' said Kusku.
Kusku stated that the negative developments in the Balkans would affect the stability and security of Europe, adding that all democratic organizations and parliaments of Balkan countries launched great efforts for ensuring stability and prosperity in the Balkans, for protecting and strengthening principles such as human rights, pluralist democracy, rule of law, and for preventing xenophobia and environmental problems.
Greek PASOK party's deputy Galip Galip said in his part that parliamentarians of Balkan countries came together to produce projects, adding that they aimed to strengthen the Turkish society in solidarity.
Galip said that about 150,000 Turks were living in western Thrace and stated that Turks living in western Thrace only had citizenship rights, not minority rights.
Stating that they could not use their religious freedom, Galip said that they could not even elect their muftis.
He said that Christians and Greek people elected muftis and noted that their struggle would continue and they would be successful. Galip added that they were considered Muslim minority since they could not be accepted as Turk.
Galip said that they wanted to live on this land where Ataturk was born and grown without giving any concessions from their religious beliefs and feelings.
Bulgarian Rights and Freedom Movement parliamentarian Ahmet Huseyin said that incidents which took place between 1970 and 1989 became history and stated that Bulgaria was exerting efforts to join EU and be a member of NATO.
Balkans, Turkey and their policies in globalizing world were discussed in the first session of the meeting, while expectations of Balkan countries and integration with EU was discussed in the second session.
(Öª-EÖ) 06.06.2003