20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

832 Eleftheria Mantanot been given; only the gratis distribution of books was accomplished. 5At the same time, it was required that the Greek teachers’ efforts to attractMuslim children to the state public schools remain in full swing. 6According to information deriving from that period, the Muslimpopulations of Epirus, as described by the local authorities, were simplepeople with a low level of education and, due to their religion, had forpractical purposes not been assimilated by the Greek population. They livedpractically isolated, were plagued by unwritten vendetta laws and usuallyconsidered the elders of the provinces as their leaders, which were oftenthose who were economically powerful, and whom they obeyed. 7 The life oftheir women was strictly determined by Islamic law, manners and customsand the presence of special women’s quarters in the homes and the use ofthe veil in public places was observed even up to the end of the 30s. 8 Theterrible economic conditions prevailing in Epirus and the inefficiency onthe part of the Greek state created favorable conditions for the developmentand proliferation of all kinds of subversive activity. The population of theregion, Christian and Muslim, was plagued by an economic recession,road transport to Epirus was nonexistent, telegraphic and telephonecommunication functioned deficiently, health care was rudimentary,whereas burglary continued to scourge the hinterland, disconfirming anysense of security in the inhabitants. The existing gendarmerie force wasnot sufficient nor able to inspire the trust to the population because most ofthe men serving there were recruited from the surrounding villages, theymaintained a network of personal relations with Christians and Muslimsand usually neglected their duties.As emphasized especially by the local authorities but also as hadbecome generally evident, the situation could not continue as it was.Measures had to be taken without delay regarding mainly the developmentof the infrastructure of the region and the enforcement of the administrativemechanism. What was of utmost importance was the improvement oftransportation through the construction of national and local roads and5AYE, 1935, A/4/9, confidential no. 26, Supervisor of Elementary Schools ofParamythia to Political Office of the Prime Minister, Department of Minorities, Paramythia12-11-1930 and secret number 20, Supervisor of Elementary Schools of Philiates to theGeneral Administration of Epirus, Philiates 30-12-1930.6AYE, 1927, A/20/β, no. 14834, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to GeneralAdministration of Epirus, Athens 17-11-1927.7AYE, 1928, A/21/I, no. 3010, ibidem.8AYE, 1939, A/4/9-10, no. 27907, General Administration of Epirus to Ministryof Foreign Affairs, Ioannina, 18-11-1938, Attached report of Thesprotia GendarmerieAdministration.