Turkish Terror in Imvros and Tenedos

Posted on 10/07/06 in Church of Greece, Greek history, Islam, News, Orthodox Christianity, Politics
Reference Address: http://www.ellopos.com/blog/?p=98

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Imvros and Tenedos are two small islands in Northern Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey, strategically located outside the Straits of the Dardanelles, the only communication between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. In 1923, after the end of a war between Greece and Turkey, the two countries signed the Treaty of Lausanne, which, among other things, provided for the handing over of these two islands to Turkey, even though at that time they were under the control of Greece and their population had always been exclusively Greek. The reason for such provision was purely geopolitical, i.e. to secure control of the Straits by Turkey. In exchange the Treaty (article 14 and articles 37-44 of the 3rd section) provided for a special administrative status of the islands that guaranteed protection of life and property, free use of the native language (Greek), religious freedom, and generally all human rights. These articles of the Treaty were considered “Basic Laws”, which, it was agreed, Turkey would have no right to abrogate through any other law, regulation or administrative act.

Seventy years have passed since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne. There was information in the Turkish press that Turkey is preparing to celebrate that occasion. It would be appropriate then to see how Turkey “honored” its signature regarding these two islands. The same concern pertains as to how the provisions of the Treaty about the Greek community of Constantinople (Istanbul) were violated by Turkey, but this should become the subject of another discussion. In any case, we believe that the following should be known by all people concerned with human rights and rights of minorities, about the condition of the native population in these two islands.

(1) In September of 1923, immediately after the islands were handed over to Turkey, article 14 was violated by the appointment of a Turkish governor instead of a governor from the local Greek population, as the Treaty clearly provided for. In violation of the same article, control of the police, courts, customs, and port authorities, came under the Turks.

(2) Sixty four lawyers, doctors, teachers, and merchants were characterized as “collaborators of the (previous) Greek regime” and proclaimed “undesirables”. An additional 1500 persons were denied return to their homes because they had abandoned the islands before September 1923 (a violation of the 15th protocol regarding amnesty, attached to the Treaty).