turkish-greek civic dialogue - AEGEE Europe

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THIS IS THE
FINAL CUT
I P R O M I S E
....................................................................................................... Ethemcan Turhan
05.12.2004 / Ankara
Everybody has a story to tell, a story to build and a life to fill in. Like each
and every one of you, mine was full of good times and bad times; anger,
pain, anxiety, joy, pride and some other human instincts. It was long before
that I was interested about the “Other”, yet not really being conscious and
informed about it. After all some day, somehow I was standing right in the
middle of a group of excited young people, trying to change something from
the bottom. Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue was, most probably, the beginning of
a new chapter in my story to be filled in.
OK, believe me I won’t go back so far in my personal history and start with
“Once upon a time” sentences, but rather tell you about my place in this long
story. Like Ceren, Burcu, Tuçe, Can, Erdinç, Şermin, Melis, Büşra; it was the
idea of “festival” that brought me into this project. I can exactly remember the
first meeting with all our favorite rock banks written on the wall, to be called
for the festival. It was more like dreaming for me than believing in it. Then I
discovered that Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue was going to much more than I’ve
imagined, right at my first AEGEE event in Sakarya. I was a real newbie by then,
trying to understand what this AEGEE and mutual understanding is all about.
For sure, it was the first time that I got to meet with people that I’ve been
hearing for long time: Sophia, Panos, Katia, Dijan. Yet, it wasn’t only them who
changed my vision about AEGEE and these idealist people; I was fascinated by
the generous Hercules Millas for what he has done even before I was born. On
the way back to Ankara, I started believing.
After all these, was the biggest struggle for all of us: KayaFest. I believe
that you will read a lot about it in this book so I’ll fast forward to festival
aftermath. Just like every big event in our lives, after KayaFest, there was
little motivation in people to keep on going for our project. Searching the
dusty attics of my memory, I remember the morning in Burcu’s house in Ankara
autumn. Burcu, Bilgi Can, Ceren, Gamze.. All tired after a sleepless night, still
trying to wake up and move on. This was the first “Final Conference” meeting,
I can remember. Mails, lots of mails and hope from Sophia was one of the most
important triggers that was keeping us all sitting there in a Sunday morning.
I felt a push to take the initiative to become the coordinator and everything
else followed.
Autumn turned into winter as we were tired about this mess we are in.
Then came another motive for us, both for our souls and our minds. With his
generosity, Muammer Ketencoğlu gave an excellent concert on Balkan tunes,
refreshing our hopes. Still 2 months to go for spring, the season we scheduled
the Final Conference. I try to remember people; though not so great in number,
still holding on to each other and what they believed in.
Then it came suddenly. People were rushing into our office to have a wonderful,
colorful poster of Final Conference (or so called FiCo) like spring. With the first
day of beautiful April, I came across with a group of unknown friends sitting at
the cafeteria right under our office. We were about to bloom. 60 young people,
gathered to discover not only “the Other”, but mostly each other.
Meeting at 04:00 am at the dorms. Scenarios changing each hour. Buses, not
always on time, Mediterranean style. I found myself first time, in a rather
formal mood, listening to Ambassador of Greece, His Excellency Mr. Michael
Christides. Representatives from European Commission, Middle East Technical
University Presidency and friends everywhere. Trying to keep calm each second,
Sophia on stage at last. After a beautiful ceremony, everyone deserves a good
party. Saklıkent, full of people and cameras. Organisation team with walkie
talkies: “Gökçe, can you hear me?” Night ending with a call from the stage:
“Come on AEGEE people”.
A spring day out, building our common future and our “road map”. Halil
Nalçaoğlu, so motivated, participants moving with the sun to keep warm.
Sleepless for days yet I’m proud of what we have done. Evaluation session,
people are tired but still has some energy to comment about what we brought
to the table. Phone calls every minute, walkie talkies, people asking millions
of questions, logistics, workshops, presentations, hopes and reality. Everyone
Final Conference Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de L’Europe