turkish-greek civic dialogue - AEGEE Europe

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S.G: Was there any love story between Greeks and Turks that time?
I.H: Yes, one of the Greeks became a Muslim; her name was Saniye “dönme
Saniye” (one who changes religion, gender, nationality). She was performing
prayer; she gave birth to a child. When they were leaving our village, they also
wanted to stay, they said we do speak Turkish, however they were not allowed
that time.
S.G: A lot of young people came to Kayaköy to organise and to participate in a
peace festival. How do you feel about it?
I am a teacher of religion. No matter which religion one believes in all the
principles of prophets leads to one address: God. All the religions want peaceful
co-existence, sincere manners. The Quran is in Arabic, however it does not
address for Arabia, but for all the citizens. All is equal; we are all brothers &
sisters. I am very happy that they came here to visit us. I am really glad to see
the integration between the Turkish and Greek youth, especially the ways they
got closer to each other. They stayed in same places, same houses, they fell in
love with each other.
“During the time of Yıldırım Beyazıt, a delegation is sent from Kayaköy to
İstanbul. They request an artist to the village from the sultan, and Rum origin
Ottomans come to Kayaköy do not only teach art but they also settle in Kayaköy.
The weather, fresh air, water and oxygen of this village is very unique. They
like the village and then they start building houses. They want their uncles,
relatives also to come and settle there. The village population becomes 17
thousand.”
“A professor from the States once visited the village, he makes a measurement.
Oxygen measurement equipment gets out of order and he calls the US saying
the oxygen rate in the village is 90 percent iodine 10 percent. Inhabitants are
healthy the food tastes sweet.”
“MEETING OF MAYORS
IN THE VILLAGE OF
CULTURE AND PEACE”
MAKRI MEETING NEA MAKRI
Thanks to the Festival, Hellenic Tourism Organisation EOT president Kostas
Katsigiannis as well as Nea Makri Mayor Ioannis Yordanis had the chance to
pay a visit to Mayor of Fethiye and they presented a plaquette to the Turkish
Mayor.
Nea Makri Mayor Yordanis’s grandfather had to abandon Kayaköy to settle in
Greece due to the exchange of populations and the grandfather of Mayor of
Fethiye came from Creta (Crete) to Rhodes and then Rhodes to Fethiye.
Yordanis was very excited to extend the greetings of Nea Makri inhabitants,
mentioning their city Nea Makri was established out of the roots of Fethiye,
Nea Makri (New Fethiye) was established by the people who were coming from
Fethiye (Makre).
Yordanis was very happy to see Antique Telmessos area; Makri and Levissi
very well-developed and rich. During the visit, both Mayors talked about joint
projects, transportation facilities for frequent visits, investments in Kayaköy
and Kayaköy as the village of friendship and peace. They both expressed they
want to come back again and next time without the need for any interpreter.
After a Turkish/Greek coffee, journalists had the chance to ask questions: The
most striking one was „Is it possible to organise such a festival in Greece maybe
in Dodecanese Islands aiming to enhance integration of people? The answer
was positive, but all the young people would be needed to contribute in this
achievement.
Nea Makri Dancers, young people of Nea Makri was one of the most breathtaking
part of our festival. Apart from the excitement they had knowing their
ancestors were from that village, Kayaköy, they also amazed all the villagers
and participants with their dances. The first four dances they performed was
from Crete, the last dances were from Traki-Thrace as well as the island of
Salamina and the island of Mitilini.
KayaFest Youth and Culture Festival Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de L’Europe