An association in Western Thrace: Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association

An Association in Western Thrace: The main purpose of this study, which is about the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association, is to research in what conditions and sociological environment it has been emerged, its initial position and its development through the process. In today's world, where minority and human rights sensitivity is on top, there is more focus on the situation of the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish minority. The activities of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (WTMUGA) which has been established under current conditions, has been continuing its actions and is the only official minority NGO accepted by the Greek Authorities, has been researched. Greece claims that there is only a Muslim minority in Western Thrace and it belongs to the Greek ethnicity. There has been a a sensitivity and sensibility towards the term "Turkish" developed in the Greek state administrations with the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. The minority, which has not been involved in these kinds of incidents, has faced with paying the price in some cases. To fight against this situation, following questions are tried to be answered: Why was the establishment of WTMUGA necessary? What was the role of WTMUGA in preserving the ethnical identity, religious belief, native language, cultural, material and spiritual values of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace? What was the role of it in keeping these values alive and transferring them into the next generation? what are the responsibilities, works and activities undertaken by the "Turkish" minority in order to use their most basic human rights as well as the minority rights guaranteed by international law? With the help of these questions,social struggle and fight for minorities has tried to be enlightened. Key Words: Western Thrace, Associations, Turkish-Greek Relations