The Ethnic Turkish Minority in Western Thrace Greece

Authors : Türkkaya ATAÖV

Pages : 89-99

Doi:10.1501/Intrel_0000000211

View : 17 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 1992-05-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In Greece there is an ethnic Turkish minority,1 whose religious affiliation is islam. The Turks are the most numerous insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(about 130,000); among the minorities in Greece although they are not the only one.2 The ethnic Turks are concentrated in a small insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(8578 sq. km.); Balkan territory called `Western Thrace`, which is bordered on the east by Turkey, on the west by the Greek part of Macedonia, on the north by Bulgaria and on the south by the Aegean Sea. The area stretches from the Maritza insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Meriç); river in the east as far as the Mesta insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Karasu); river in the west. The region includes the Rhodope mountains in the north. The Maritza river divides modern Thrace into the `Eastern` insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(or Turkish); and the `Western` insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(or Greek); portions. A part of Thrace is, then, within the borders of European Turkey.  
Keywords : The Ethnic, Turkish Minority, Western Thrace Greece