Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas was present at a traditional reception for the New Year organised by natives of the northeast Aegean island of Imvros, where he expressed a wish that Turkey -- which was granted the isle via treaty in 1923 -- takes bold steps in 2011 to embrace minorities in the neighbouring country.
He also reiterated a statement made by the prime minister on Friday during an address to Turkish diplomats in Erzurum regarding respect for minority rights and religious freedom, noting that Athens attributes paramount importance to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to the ethnic Greek minority in Turkey.
Droutsas nevertheless emphasised that Turkey has take positive steps. "We hope that these (steps) will continue so that the people remaining in Turkey (the now tiny ethnic Greek community) as well as those who have decided to return, will, indeed, feel a welcome part of Turkish society."
ANA
