turkish-greek civic dialogue - AEGEE Europe

of villagers, enjoying their hospitability accompanied by local wines and water
melons and endless stories about the history of the village, and they were
interviewing the villagers for the KayaFest video. They were also enjoying the
sun at the village café accompanied by ryhtms of percussions and themy tea
“kekik çayı”. They were using the primary school of the village as a workshop
place and dancing, discussing, exploring each other.
And the villagers were also all over the village observing all these colorful
sights of the festival. They were watching the documentaries about the
village together with participants, pointing their fingers on their grandparents
they could see on the screens, constantly cooking and serving and smiling,
smiling happily… And once it was over, they were also melancholic, seeing off
their guests, thanking us to enable them to host people in their houses, for
introducing them the home pension system,asking us when is the next one?
After the completion of the festival the project coordination team had also
evaluation meetings to listen the experiences, complaints and assessment of
local stakeholders. Villagers, municipality, FETAV all agreed that it was useful
for the promotion of the village, that the villagers made quite a lot of money.
But they still voiced their concerns for the next time, that the stage and sound
system was too big and proffessional and also loud, the exact location of the
stage was not the best one were amongst their remarks…
Sefer Güvenç from the Foundation of Lausanne Treaty Emigrants interviewed
with Imam Halil. Imam Halil is the official prayer leader who calls the villagers
for prayer. During the festival Greek participants were enjoying the prayer five
times a day, and waking up very early with the call “ezan”, naming the very
friendly İmam Halil as “DJ İmam”.
I.H : “I was born in 1913 in Keçiler village. I have been working in this village
for 27 years as Imam. I also helped villagers performing prayer. At that time in
early 1900s, Greeks used to live here, as well as our nationals. The Greeks used
to live in this village. It was reported that this village had 3000 house complexes.
There were children at my age and we used to talk a lot, play marble, we
used to go the shops together to buy candies, delights. My grandmother could
understand their language. She used to have friends called Atine, Marine,
Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de L’Europe
Michal, Andon. There was a doctor called Aliko, he could diagnose the diseases
without any examination“
SG: When the Greeks left the village, did they also take away their property,
their belongings?
I.H: The government did not let them to take gold or silver with them, but only
cash. Therefore, they had to hide all their gold and silverware. Unfortunately
the boats used for transport, could not allow loads or packs, but mostly people.
Therefore, they were not allowed to take anything other than most essential
belongings.
S.G: How did you learn that they you would abandon the village?
I.H: The government issued an order, they said until whatever day everybody
has to get prepared for leaving. The Republic of Turkey was established. Atatürk
became the president. All the legislation was completed and the decision of
exchange of population was taken; so the emigrants from Thessaloniki came
to Turkey.
S.G: The Greeks had to abandon the village, but how did they leave?
It was Us, the Turks, who did see them off. They could take their animals and
some of the packages. However, the state sold out their precious belongings
and other leftovers through auctions. Reversely, boats came to here, to Fethiye
from Greece carrying emigrants from Greece.
Later on, they came with horses and camels. They divided the abandoned lands
and houses to these newcomers, emigrants from Greece. They pulled out he
doors of the houses. Some of them sold the houses and left to Antalya and
İzmir. At the end, our population remained around 15-20 thousand.
S.G: Was there any competition or conflict between the Greek emigrants and
the villagers?
I.H: Conflict exits even between sisters and brothers. However, we were doing
everything together, all kinds of exchange, trade, trade of brides, engagements
and weddings.
KayaFest Youth and Culture Festival
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