Greece-born Turkish minister's promotion an 'honor'

By Mehmet Hatipoglu

KOMOTINI, Greece

This week’s elevation of a Greece-born Turkish politician to the post of deputy prime minister has been welcomed in his hometown.

Hakan Cavusoglu's news was greeted warmly by fellow politicians in the Komotini (Gumulcine) city of northern Greece.

The Western Thrace region of Greece is home to around 145,000 local Muslim Turks.

A lawmaker from Greece’s governing SYRIZA party, Huseyin Zeybek -- who hails from neighboring Xanthi (Iskece), told Anadolu Agency on Friday Cavusoglu was an experienced figure.

"We believe that Cavusoglu will contribute to the positive steps to be taken for both the [Turkish] minority and in relations between the two countries. [...] We are also trying to do the same thing here," he said.

Chairman of the Friendship, Equality and Peace Party -- which represents local Muslim Turks in the region -- told Anadolu Agency Cavusoglu's new role was a great honor not only for the Turkish minority in Western Thrace but all Turkish communities in the Balkans.

Mustafa Alicavus said he believed Cavusoglu would successfully fulfill his duties as one of Turkey’s five deputy premiers.

Cavusoglu was born in 1972 in Deilina (Delinasufkoy), a village of Komotini, where many of his relatives remain. He became one of Turkey’s deputy prime ministers in a major cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wednesday.

Cavusoglu’s 81-year-old uncle, Selim Cavusoglu, said when he learned his nephew had become a senior minister he immediately rang to congratulate him.

"He has a great talent and he deserves [the post] for working hard," he said.

The minister's cousin, Idris Cavusoglu, also said the new minister’s success was a proud moment for both their family and Western Thrace.