President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is headed to the Western Thrace region of northeastern Greece to meet with members of the country's Muslim ethnic Turkish minority on the second day of an official visit to Greece.
Erdoğan is expected to visit a mosque and meet local officials in Komotini before returning to Turkey Friday afternoon.
Erdoğan's address to the Turkish community is expected to be closely followed by the Greek officials as the Greek treatment and alleged discrimination against the minority there has been one of several contentious issues dividing the two NATO allies and neighbors.
During a publicly aired conversation with Greek officials Thursday, Erdoğan reiterated his call to revise the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne—which set the borders of modern Turkey—citing the conditions of ethnic Turks living in Western Thrace.
"You cannot find any discrimination against Turkish citizens of Greek origin in Turkey. However, in the Western Thrace, even writing the word 'Turkish' is not allowed."
"Muslims in [Greece's] Western Thrace have not even been allowed to choose their own mufti from their community," Erdoğan said, referring to Muslim scholars who interpret and expound Islamic law, as well as provide counsel for Muslim communities.
Noting that the average income of Turks in the Western Thrace is $2,200, Erdoğan said, "Steps for investment and economic development have not been taken, and for this reason the Lausanne Treaty should be updated."
