WordBulletin

World Bulletin/News Desk

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag visited Xanthi in Western Thrace on Saturday.

Bozdag said that Turks in Western Thrace had some problems especially regarding faith, but the European Union was indifferent to their problems.

Turkey has adopted values of the EU, but there were practices which did not comply with the EU values in many EU states, he said.

Bozdag said that although Turkey was not a member of the EU, it has taken significant steps on freedom of religion and conscience. "Turkey is a country where everyone's rights are protected and it will continue to do so," he said.

Turkey has always been beside Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace, he said. "We know your problems. We will keep exerting efforts for solution of your problems," he said addressing Turks in Western Thrace.

Later Bozdag left Western Thrace for Turkey after completing his talks.