Newsletter Federation of W estern Turks in Europe

September 2005 Year: 1 Nr: 1 Johannisstraße 50, 58452 Witten • Tel.: +49.2302.913291• Fax: +49.2302.913293 • E-mail: [email protected] • www.abttf.org

Green Light from had annulled the the FUEN to the M embership of citizenships of 46638 persons! ABTTF The state made public for the first time through official numbers The green light was turned The state made public for condition, can ask for their on for the membership of the first time through citizenships through the Federation of W estern official numbers:The applying to the Ministry of Thrace Turks in Europe citizenship of 46638 Interior Affairs with the (ABTTF) to the Federal persons had been annulled! necessary legal documents. Union of European The applica-tions are going Nations FUEN, which The member of Parliament, to be evaluated according to represents the W estern Ilhan Ahmet, had asked in the any case by the Thrace Turkish minority his question motion he had Citizenship Committee; the through having attended to submitted to the Parliament wrong actions of the the meetings of the FUEN on the 20. April in 2005 administration are going to for the last two years. how many persons had lost be investigated, and it is their citizenship, and what going to be decided by the ABTTF, which attended to kind of initiatives had been Vice Minister of Interior the Nations Congress of the undertaken in these subject Affairs at the end. FUEN assembled in matters. The question had 1998, till the Citizenship Brussels on the 4th-8th May been addressed to the 4. The ones, whose requests Law numbered 19. N. in 2005, has called the Ministry of Interior Affairs. to obtain the Greek 3370/55 was applied and representatives of the citizenships are not abolished. nations coming from The Ministry of Interior accepted, can apply for the different regions of Europe Affairs answered Mr. Ilhan method of the 2. From these persons, who and attending to the Ahmet through its writing “Politography of obtaining obtained the Turkish meeting for support dated 78400/8334 as the Citizenship” upon the citizenship, and live in through describing the follows: Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of Greece, can have the problems of the W estern the New Citizenship Law “Stateless (Heimatlos)” Thrace Turkish minority. At 1. 46638 Muslims from the dated N. 3284/2004. This identity card. the meeting, the president W estern Thrace and 12 law was passed in the of ABTTF, Halit Habiboglu Islands lost their Parliament re-cently, and 3. The persons, who find got the word on behalf of citizenships till the year the redraft of the law is out themselves in this the W estern Thrace Turkish ¢ of question minority, and stated that the Turkish identity of the 5.000 Signatures from Europe minority was not being recognized in Greece, and for the Turkish Union of Xanthi the Turkish Union of Xanthi and the Cultural By the end of the signing The signing campaign, Association of Turkish campaign carried out by the which has been carried out W omen in Rhodope could Federation of W estern by ABBTTF through its not perform their activities Thrace Turks in Europe member foundations due to the word “Turkish” (ABTTF) and 29 Europe- Europe-wide, and parallel in their names. He said, wide ABTTF-member to the signing campaign “The Frame Agreement on foundations of W estern started in the W estern the Protection of the Thrace Turks, the number Thrace against the ban Minorities, although Greece of signatures collected has decision of the Turkish signed years ago, but has approached to 5.000. Continued on page 7 Continued on page 7 AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF)

Totalitarian Statements Call from the Organization Harm the Integration of the Islamic Conference Respect Call from the Organization of the Islamic The Federation of W estern Conference (OIC) for the Identity of the W estern Thrace Turks in Europe Thrace Turks (ABTTF) criticized the statements of Stefanie Vogelsang, the District President of CDU of Berlin-Neuköln and the member of the Municipality Council, that the ones, who could not speak German, should be expelled from the country: “The immigrant minorities should not be pointed as target in order to have political advantage. the history of migration. In Such seeds, which are the history of the migration sowed for short-term of workers, which has been advantages, gives the way to going on over half of a At the OIC 32. Term would make the self- totalitarianism.” century, the immigrants Foreign Ministers Meeting management of the have become longest a part which took place in Jemen, foundations possible. The statements of the CDU of Germany. It should not it was called that all the member, Stefanie been forgotten that these measures should be taken in Concerning the issue of the Vogelsgang, which people have been order that the identity and Turkish Union of Xanthi appeared in the German recognized as immigrants rights of the W estern (ITB), one of the oldest press in details, that the only at the beginning of this Thrace Muslim Turkish NGOs of the Turkish immigrants, who could not year.” Minority in Greece were minority, unhappiness learn German, should be preserved. about the ban of the expelled, were harshly Mr. Habipoglu stated that foundation activities by the criticized by the ABTTF the idea of expelling people, In the written proposal Greek Highest Court of President, Halit Habipoglu. since they could not learn adopted unanimously at the Appeal due to the word Mr. Habipoglu evaluated the language, did have no OIC Foreign Ministers “Turkish” in its name was this as a misfortune that the place in the democratic meeting, the repressions expressed, and it was political personalities were order, and said: “The carried out against the stressed that it was making such statements, concerning people are Muslim minority were unacceptable that the and pointing at the ordinary persons, who were embodied right after their stressed, and the identity and rights of the immigrant minorities as “adjudication pressure” on W estern Thrace Turkish target in order to achieve arrival to the mill of the elected Muftis (the minority were being political advantages before industry without any highest religious authority ignored. the national elections on 18 language course or of a province) of Xanthi September , and said: “As education. It is a sign of and Komotini were The OIC General the members of the judicial ignorance that the condemned and the official Secretariat has also been immigrant minority living in expulsion, which could be recognition of Muftis were assigned to prepare a report Germany, we are aware that applied to terrorists or criminal persons, are being appealed. about the news of the we should of course learn destruction of the mosques the language of the country proposed for such Furthermore, it was and Muslim graveyards in where we live as perfect as immigrant persons. demanded that the the W estern Thrace. It was possible, and I believe that Furthermore, such kind of necessary steps were taken stated that the report we realize this in the best thinking is the real in order that the Muslim related to the Turkish way. However, the hindrance before the Turkish minority in the minority in the W estern statements of Ms. integration of the W estern Thrace could elect Thrace would be presented Vogelsang shows that she immigrants in this country” their own executive boards at the next OIC Foreign speaks without embracing ¢ in such a way that this Ministers Meeting ¢

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AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF) Ridiculous statement from Greece: The W estern Thrace Turks quit their citizenship on their own will! At the meetings of the 11. and they are forced to live ethnic origin” and “non- W orking Group on in a way that they are Greeks”, and deprives the Minorities in Geneva this deprived of all their social ones of the citizenship year, the Greek delegation rights.” through an administrative has continued its state’s decision, when they are rejection policy through its W hile Greece prefers non-Greeks, many of our response given to the leaving many claims people have to live in the representative of ABTTF, without answers, and insists “stateless” status. Art. 19 is Cemile Giousouf, who on describing the minority the part of a much more stated the problems of the only as “Muslim”, her comprehensive policy, W estern Thrace Turks statement on the which aims the emigration there. deprivations of the of our minority from the citizenship surprised the W estern Thrace, and it is The meetings of the state tried to take the minority and specialists of not possible to hide it under W orking Group on religious autonomy given the subject matter deeply. any cover.” Minorities, which have been them by the international In the oral and written organized by the United treaties away from their statement made by the Following to the meetings, Nations specialists every hands through the representative of the Greek Cemile Giousouf made an year since 1995, and bring appointments to the posts government, it was evaluation, and said: “It is the NGO’s and at Müftülük (public body of maintained that the ones, unfortunately to observe academicians together, were the religious matters) by the who had quit the that Greece has still the held for the 11. time at the state, and the minority citizenship, had done this intention to continue a beginning of July in could not determine the by not returning to the structural rejection policy Geneva. W hile ABTTF is administrators of the country, and on their own against the Turkish minority also a permanent foundations, which were will. The President of the and other minorities for a participant to these actually its own possessions. ABTTF, Halit Habiboglu, long time. W e, as minority, meetings, the member of The representative of the made a response statement do not follow a contra- the W orking Group on ABTTF underlined the fact related to the statement of policy, and ask for special Political Activities and that the region was one of the Greek government rights. Our only appeal is Lobby of the Federation, the most under-developed representative, and said: that our rights, of which Cemile Giousouf, ones in Greece and the “The government minimum limits have been represented the Federation European Union, and representative has not heard determined by the at the meetings. continued that the ones either of those, whose international treaties, are deprived of the citizenship passports were taken from respected.” Ms Yusuf At the meetings Cemile due to the Art. 19 of the their hands at the entry to stressed that the W orking Giousouf held a speech, Greek Citizenship Law, the country at the border; Group on Minorities did which stated the problems which had been abolished of the ones, who found out not have a sanction power of the minority. She in 1998, lived still in the through a letter sent from on the states, and touched on the subject “stateless” status in the the Consulate to their continued: “Although this matter of the rejection of region. She said, homes that they had lost organization, which brings the Turkish identity in the “According to the official their citizenship, when they the representatives of W estern Thrace, and the numbers made public by had worked abroad; and minorities and states state of the associations, the Greek Ministry of the much worse than these, of together, does not possess a which had been banned, or Interior, 46.638 persons the ones, who were sanction power, builds could not get the were deprived of the Greek deprived of the citizenship, already a discussion permission to establishment citizenship, except from while they did their military platform for governments due to the word “Turkish” those, who got the service in the Greek army, and minorities today. I in their names through citizenships of other or does not really have a believe that the institution giving examples. countries. There are still good will, and not talk will play a more efficient Afterwards, she indicated many persons in the region cooperatively for a dialogue. role in the minority subject the miserable condition of living in the “stateless” Because of the Art. 19, matters, and become more the minority education, and status. Big difficulties are which discriminates among effective in arriving the goal state’s tries to block the raised, when they want to the citizens between the through bringing minorities education. She said that the re-obtain their citizenship, “ones from the Hellenic and governments closer” ¢

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AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF)

W e support the bilingual The suffering of the education producers doesn’t go to an end The President of the period, we hoped that an Federation of ABTTF, environment of mutual Halit Habiboglu, evaluated good will and the deterioration of the understanding would have economic conditions of the begun to form. In spite of W estern Thrace Turkish this, we observe regrettably minority in the last months, that our country Greece of which 90% live on the could not have reached the tobacco production, and sufficient competence in said: “Our producers many fields yet. According should not be left to the to the news we have got, arbitrary justice of the payment and the merchants.” minimum price applied to the producers in the regions Mr. Habiboglu evaluated in the W estern Thrace, ABTTF announced that it only an economic area, but the tension grew among the where the Turks don’t live, would support the bilingual also a union of folks. In this Turkish minority because of are two times of the education campaign started togetherness, as much as further lowering of the payment the minority at the Essen University with the rights of the majorities, minimum prices by the producers get. Our people its entire strength. The the rights of the classical common initiative of the are being left to the President of ABTTF, Mr. minorities and of the tobacco merchants in the arbitrary justice of the Halit Habiboglu declared immigrant communities last days, which have merchants at the expense of that ABTTF was ready to having become real already been low, and said: selling their production for cooperate with all the minorities in the real sense, “Tobacco production is the almost nothing.” Mr. concerning persons, but their existences are still main means of subsistence Habiboglu continued his associations and not recognized by the states of the Turkish minority in words by underlying their organizations in the subject should not be ignored. As Greece, and 15 thousand wish that the issue should matter of bilingual being the only minority of families are direct tobacco be approached with good education institutions, and Europe recognized, we producers. W hen the ones, will, and they did not seek said: “According to the appeal from all of the who join to the later levels an evil intent, and said: “As Lausanne Treaty, we, the W estern European of the production process loyal citizens to their W estern Thrace Turks countries, among them, are also considered, 90% of country, who pay their taxes being a minority in Greece, from Germany particularly, the minority economy and do their military have the right to form and where have settled in, and maintains its livelihood service, the only thing we continue our own education live today, that our minority through tobacco want that our country institutions. This education, rights, in the first instance, production. For many years, Greece, and European which functions even today our right to education are we have faced difficulties in Union do not neglect us, in spite of many problems, given us here, too, and the realizing our basic when they form their is indispensable for our reality that the Turkish production activity. Driving economy policies” ¢ minority. The education of immigrants living in licence for tractor was not our children in their native Germany are also a given us, in order that we language, which is our very minority of this country is could not plough our fields, natural right, does not have accepted, and the education or our lands were taken to be luxurious anymore, institutions, where the away from us through the and the schools, where teaching is bilingual, both in pretext of confiscation. Turkish is taught, ought to German and Turkish, are However, developments be opened.” Mr. Habipoglu realized. As Federation, have been noticed in the stated that as being a with its 29 member last 15 years through the minority, they were not only foundations, we are ready pressures coming from the the minority of Greece, but to support the campaign European Union. Especially ¢ also of the EU, and started with this aim” in the post-earthquake continued: “The EU is not 4

AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF)

The Visit to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe The Visit of the Federation of W estern Thrace Turks in Europe to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) went off successfully.

The delegation, which Members of Parliament. visited PACE in accordance Schumann declared that he with the decision taken by would offer the necessary the Executive Board of support concerning this ABTTF, passed on the subject. The Human Rights problems of the W estern Commissioner of the Thrace Turks to the Council of Europe, Alvaro Members of Parliament Gil-Robles, with whom the (MoP) from 46 European delegation interviewed on countries through making the second day, requested several interviews. after listening to the problems of the W estern The delegation composed Thrace that the problems of the president of ABTTF, were described in a written Halit Hatioglu, and the petition addressed to his vice-predident, Zeynep post, and he was called for Adem, has expressed the an action. current problems of the Law, which had opened the status” problem of the Art. W estern Thrace Turkish way of dropping the 19-victims, who cannot “W e are the children of minority during its two-day citizenships of over 60 even get their retirement Europe” Strasbourg visit through thousand people, was salaries, although they paid exchanging ideas and minds annulled through the their retirement payments, After returning from with the Council of Europe pressures came from the and cannot participate to Strasbourg, Mr. Habipoglu Secretaries, the Commission W est, especially from the the economical life due to made an evaluation of the Presidents and the MoP. European Union; and their status, has become visits, and said, “W e are the The 3 subject matters came added to that a substantial impossible to solve through minority children of to the foreground at the part of these citizenship legal means, which need big Europe, which is meetings, namely; the ban victims had to still live in financial efforts. The developing and growing day of the Turkish Union of , Greece and political solution has by day. W e are facing with Xanthi due to the only Germany in the “stateless become a necessity now. the repressions due to the reason that it carries the status”, since the article W e call the European archaic mentalities in our word “Turkish” in its name, annulled could not be Members of Parliament to country, which is proud of the Cultural Association of traced back to the past. The act for a solution of this being a member of the Turkish W omen in president of ABTTF, Mr. problem.” European Union. These Rhodope, which could not Habipoglu, said that while repressions are nowhere get the foundation the citizenship was easily Question M otion to the else to be seen in Europe, permission due to the same issued to the immigrants PACE in the geography of human reason, and the Art. 19 of coming from the ex-Soviet and minority rights. The the Greek Citizenship Law, countries already at the The Responsible for the pressures of the European because of which over 60 entry to the country Political Matters of the Union in the last years have thousand W estern Thrace through filling out a form PACE, Klaus Schumann, secured a partial Turks have lost their with the claim that they with whom the delegation improvement in our citizenships from 1955 till it were from the Hellenic interviewed, said that it problems concerning the was annulled in 1995. race, the “stateless status” could be possible to carry citizenship rights. However, of the W estern Thrace the problem to the General we also want that this “W e call the European Turks, who have been Assembly of the PACE as a improvement spreads out Members of Parliament to Greek citizens for years, “question motion”, when a to the minority rights, and act for a political solution.” were paying their tax, and report summarizing the for this reason, we are doing their military service, subject matter was looking for the support The delegation of ABTTF did not comply with any prepared, and the signatures from all of the European mentioned that the Art. 19 justice and law criterion. He could be gathered from the organizations in order to of the Greek Citizenship also said, “The “stateless adequate number of remedy this shame” ¢

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AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF)

“Please put the W estern Terrorist Attacks in London Thrace on your agenda, too!” The Statement of the President of ABTTF, Halit Habipoglu, concerning the Terrorist Attacks in The President of ABTTF, of the foundations, which London Mr. Halit Habiboglu made were the basic part of our statements upon the news minority, had been taken 11th, should not be appeared in the press that away from the minority’s allowed. Islam and the Turkish and Greek control, and the executive Christianity are not the delegation heads in the boards were being formed conflict parties which aim PACE had reached a through the appointments to destroy each other. On gentlemanliness agreement by the state, and discussed: the contrary, they are peace to solve the possession “The administration of our and tolerance doctrines problems of the Greek foundations, which have which complement each minority through the means very important missions other mutually. The real of dialogue, and said: “W e ranging from building conflict is between this have been experiencing the schools to the payment of understanding of peace and problem of minority the salaries of the teachers tolerance and terrorism foundations for years much and the religious W e have heard regrettably which aims to transform more in our country functionaries, and the about the attack series the world into a blood sea. Greece, a member of the financing of social activities which aimed the civilians W e have seen this reality in European Union, and on for the minority, has been travelling with the public its clearest form during the the other hand, this taken away from our transport means in London. terrorist attacks in Istanbul. minority foundations’ control for almost 40 years. W e condemn severely the problem is being brought in Since we cannot determine perpetrators who carried W hat we have to do today front of Turkey again and the executives of our out the attacks after in is that the Muslims, again, which is a candidate institutions, we cannot also Istanbul and Madrid now in Christians, Jews, Buddhists, country to the European supervise them.” Mr. London, too, and wish to Hindus, other religion Union. W hen the Lausanne Habipoglu said also that the ones who lost their lives members and the ones Treaty was signed, the while the Jewish and the the grace of God, and their without religion meet W estern Thrace Turks Catholic foundations in families patience. around peace and tolerance, possessed 85% of the land, Greece did not face such and develop an attitude in and today they possess only problems, it made no sense There is no religion, behind order to stop this 30% of it. Due to the that the W estern Thrace which these brutal destroying mentality. The nationalization, the land Turks, who were also Greek murderers can hide states have here also a big consolidations, and the citizens like the others, were themselves who have duty. The prevention of encouragement of the being victimized because of selected the innocent terrorism composed of not Greek farmers by the state the principle of reciprocity, persons continuing their only increasing the defence that they buy the lands of and continued as follows: daily lives as victims in expenditures, but also the minority, we have lost “Although the compromise public transport means and overcoming the social our lands. W hen we reached in the PACE at work places. The inequality which lays the consider that the minority between the heads of the equation of Islam, which is ground for the birth of has been recently entitled to Turkish and Greek also a religion of peace and terrorism, and improving the right to acquire delegations reminds us the tolerance like all the other the mutual understanding property, our properties principle of “reciprocity” religions, with terrorism is between the communities have been taken away from we do not really approve, bothering us, the W estern and nations. us in a premeditated way. we demand the same Thrace Muslim Turks, who Today, however, we have to ground of compromise and has been living Islam in its W e condemn severely again pay rentals in order to use dialogue for the W estern most peaceful form for 600 the perpetrators of the our own lands, which have Thrace Turks, since we see years, of which for 85 years terrorist attacks, and call the been nationalized with very a good will in this initiative. as a minority in Greece states, mass media and low values and are not W e expect from the where the majority is especially the communities being used at all.” Mr. Turkish and Greek Christian, and as to the imperturbability, and Habipoglu made it clear delegations that they set the immigrants in Germany. instead of extermination, to that since the junta, which environment for peace and The scenario of the “Clash the solidarity on the ground had taken over the tolerance in the Aegean of Civilizations”, which has of tolerance ¢ government in 1967 in without ignoring our been tried to be brought to Greece, the administration problems” ¢ the agenda after September 6

AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF)

Green Light from the FUEN to the M embership of ABTTF (countinued)

not passed yet to the and said, “W e find it crucial National Assembly for to announce our voice and ratification, gives not only introduce ourselves at to the minorities the right organizations such as the to determine and protect FUEN. Beside the wide their own identities, but vision we are getting also brings obligations to through taking part to such the states to protect and organizations, the support develop these identities. of the other European folks Unfortunately, I cannot for our just claim widens find a good will in the not- the basic of our struggle. ratification of these Through making afresh international treaties by my application to the country, Greece, although concerning organization in she is a party to them. To the following days, we are say, many behaviours of my going to possess more word country are just for for the last two years as permitted in Greece. The and, be more active, since showpiece, and not really representative of the FUEN, which had the organization, in which honest.” He also touched W estern Thrace Turks. The guaranteed membership to the minorities of 30 on the problems of those, upper administration of the the foreign representations countries are being who lost their citizenships FUEN, which was holding due to the restrictions represented, is becoming due the Art. 19 of the the previous application on before the organization and the only ground in Europe, Greek Citizenship Law, and grounds that the association in the “iron where the minorities can condemned the stateless organization was not curtain-era”, will have express themselves and status of the W estern founded and is not acting in employed the concerning voice loud. W e hope that Thrace Turks, who have the W estern Thrace, has principle against Greece in our country, Greece, will always been loyal citizens to taken a principle decision in the following days, if he recognize the identity of their country. the direction that the membership of ABTTF is our minority, and our possibility of the guaranteed. outstanding foundations in Important steps have been membership can be Greece can be members to taken towards the guaranteed to a foreign After returning from the such organizations, and be membership of ABTTF on representation, since the meeting at the FUEN, the active there. As ABTTF, we behalf of the W estern establishment or activities delegation members of are always ready to carry Thrace to the FUEN, of foundations having the ABTTF, Halit Hatipoglu this historical mission, till which has been attending at word “Turkish” in their and Mehmet Hüseyin, our problems are solved the meetings of the FUEN names are not being evaluated the outcomes, completely ¢

5.000 Signatures from Europe for the Turkish Union of Xanthi (countinued) Union of Xanthi taken by collected at the foundations. Halit Habipoglu has made a international norms and the Greek Supreme Court statement concerning the recognizes us only as of Appeal in March of the The signatures, which have theme, and said: “It is a “Muslims”, to correct her last year due to the word been collected during the great blemish of the faulty behaviour, and invite “Turkish” in its name, is campaign carried out by the European Union we have her to ratify eventually the coming to an end. Through 29 ABTTF member set our hopes on and are “Frame Agreement on the trilingual (English, German foundations, will be sent also members of that in a Minority Rights” in her and Turkish) signing form above all to the Council of member state of the Parliament which she had of the foundations, all the Europe, European European Union and in the already signed years ago. It superior institutions of Parliament and European 21st century, a foundation does not comply with the Europe are appealed to stop Court of Human Rights, is closed down due to the state seriousness to sign the this injustice against the and to great many of only reason that it carries international documents Turkish Union of Xanthi at international institutions the word “Turkish” in its due to only show, but not once. During the signing and human rights name. W e appeal our to put them into practice” campaign which comes to organizations. country Greece, which ¢ an end on the July 15th, rejects our ethnic identity 5.000 signatures have been The President of ABTTF, despite all of the

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AVRUPA BATI TRAKYA TÜRK FEDERASYONU (ABTTF)

European Union Has the Solution Key for the Economical Problem in W estern Thrace The decision of the European Union, that it was going to abolish the subventions for the tobacco production, concerns the W estern Thrace Turkish tobacco producers.

The EU declared that it daily costs of a family, who would extend the is busy with tobacco restrictions on selling production the whole year, tobacco and tobacco means leaving the minority products to the production to hunger. On the other stage, and abolish the hand, the minority farmers subventions for the tobacco are angry with the production in a few years cooperatives, which have completely. This declaration been established to protect has made the minority the minority farmers against farmers, whose only means the hard free market of subsistence is tobacco conditions. The minority production, brood. farmers complain that the Moreover, the reality, that protective decisions in the the support premiums for cooperatives are not taken stock raising and other kind without establishing of productions are also dialogue with the farmers, going to be abolished in a and the cooperatives do not few years, is reducing the come out from the control alternatives. of the merchants. The farmers, who have to The Only M eans of continue their lives under Subsistence very hard conditions, are The W estern Thrace made dependent on the Turkish farmers have been merchants through living on the tobacco agreements signed one year production in the region for before the harvest, and in a long time. The tobacco which the prices are not production, from which the determined. This is also highest yield can be another complaint point, obtained in uneven and but unfortunately, there is narrow lands, is almost an labour force tobacco get adequate harvest due to no clause in the code of inevitability for the minority production needs makes it the reasons such as laws to hinder this practice. members, who live impossible to do an drought, hail etc., is also especially in the northern additional job. doomed to the low income Project from ABTTF for part of the region and on the following year. Alternative Products agriculture. Although the The EU Premiums Have Continuous decrease in the ABTTF is preparing itself inclination of the EU first Become Life Ring premiums has been the to publish a research project to reduce, and then to The first development, second negative phase of called “Alternative abolish the funds has which has caused financial this development. Agricultural Products in become visible, the misery for the minority, According to the statements W estern Thrace” in order minority has not been which could continue its of the W estern Thrace to rescue the minority informed about the production through Turkish minority farmers, farmers from the dilemma alternative products subventions from the EU, the price of one kg. they have fell in. The necessarily and adequately. has been that the fixed tobacco, which had climbed ABTTF President Mr. This and that the minority premium system, which had to 10¤ a few years ago Habipoglu stated that they has been underdeveloped lasted till a few years ago, through the support would present the for years paved the way that has been fixed to the premiums, decreased today concerning research to the the minority is dependent production averages of the under 5¤. The abolishment attention of the minority on only one product. last two years. The of the premiums, which do farmers, when it was Moreover, the intensive minority, which could not not cover today even the completed ¢ 8