turkish-greek civic dialogue - AEGEE Europe
turkish-greek civic dialogue - AEGEE Europe
turkish-greek civic dialogue - AEGEE Europe
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4<br />
LEON BAKRACESKI<br />
PRESIDENT OF <strong>AEGEE</strong>-EUROPE<br />
Since the signing of the Lausanne Treaty in 1923, Turks<br />
and Greeks are working on solving the “ever-lasting”<br />
problems. In 1980s, the scope of Turkish-Greek relations<br />
was defined by lack of <strong>dialogue</strong>. Many people in the<br />
respective countries, as well as the close neighbourhood,<br />
said that this was a powder cage waiting to explode. Was<br />
it? Was it possible that the new member state of the<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an Community - Greece and secular Turkey could<br />
generate new crisis area on the tectonic border between<br />
the “West” and the “East”? From modern perspective, I<br />
feel that we are all very lucky that this question remained<br />
as a rhetoric question. Everlasting wowing for peace and<br />
<strong>dialogue</strong>, apparently most of the time remained and still<br />
is halted in the back, as politicians were seeking votes<br />
for the upcoming elections.<br />
Something changed nowadays? I believe so! The Helsinki decision and<br />
the Brussels summit in 2004 are opening up new unexplored skylines of<br />
communication, values and solutions. Somewhere above the bright horizon,<br />
brave and enthusiastic group of <strong>AEGEE</strong> members, but above all young people<br />
with motivation and power joined to offer new platform of <strong>dialogue</strong>. The<br />
“Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue” was a unique meeting place, where the new<br />
builders of <strong>Europe</strong> stand together, discuss, solve and inspire.<br />
<strong>Europe</strong> is still not deprived of conflicts, especially in these days when we are<br />
expecting the final resolution of the Kosovo question, when Western Balkan<br />
is lining up in front of the doors of the “Old Lady”. This project with its<br />
methodology and concept of bringing <strong>AEGEE</strong> members and all young people<br />
from other NGOs together can be seen as a role model of interconnectivity, for<br />
peace and stability, so longed and preached by our decision-makers.<br />
Dear Reader, the book that you are holding in your hands represents canalised<br />
emotions and dedication of the project manager and her team. This is a book<br />
that speaks about friendships made, connections established and solutions<br />
provided, that hardly could have been imagined years ago.<br />
This book speaks more than about <strong>AEGEE</strong> itself. As a vital part of this project,<br />
I can say that I am proud to be a member of this association and I am proud to<br />
have had this project as awakener among Youth in <strong>Europe</strong>.<br />
The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that we do not want<br />
to stay where we are, or should I rather say where we were? If we seek<br />
prosperity, if we seek liberalisation, if we seek progress and common better<br />
future; then we have to tear down walls. Because we decided that we don’t<br />
want to be another brick in the wall.<br />
CEM GÜNDOĞAN<br />
PRESIDENT OF <strong>AEGEE</strong>-ANKARA<br />
Dear Reader,<br />
First, I would like to say that as being the newly<br />
elected president of <strong>AEGEE</strong>-Ankara, it is an honour<br />
to me to be among the ones who wrote welcoming words<br />
for this result book.<br />
When I joined <strong>AEGEE</strong>, the Final Conference of the<br />
Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue project was taking place. I<br />
was totally impressed by the idea of the whole project.<br />
I met many people who worked for the collaboration<br />
of Turkish and Greek non-governmental organisations.<br />
There was a smell of big, successful project around<br />
there. But, who managed this?<br />
Yes, we as Turks had critical times with Greeks throughout history. Sometimes<br />
the relations became very fragile. Some people thought that Turks and Greeks<br />
are natural born enemies at those times. However, some group of people – the<br />
so-called <strong>AEGEE</strong> people - did not agree with this opinion. They were openminded,<br />
addicted to peace, and had no artificial borders in their minds. Those<br />
<strong>AEGEE</strong> people decided to make a meaningful change, which some people call<br />
destiny; they wanted to prove that we as two nations are friends. This result<br />
book is all about their great effort.<br />
Greetings Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de L’<strong>Europe</strong>