By Chrysostom Luke:
Every summer the whole of Cyprus remembers the sad events of the invasion, the uprooting, the executions, the missing, the recent sacrifices of the heroes Isaac-Solomos.
The invasion was a well-established plan that was implemented in 1956, brought the occupation of the island and continues to this day, with the aim of occupying and Turkifying it through the abortion of the Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation. An important factor in achieving this is the excellent foreign policy pursued by Turkey.
The Turks managed to put their glasses all over Europe with their excellent foreign policy. Inside, there have always been conflicts outside, but the goal was one: The creation of a regional force that would challenge the territorial waters of its enemies (eg Greece), would intervene where it was interested (Cyprus) and finally secure its rear. by various enemies (eg Kurds). With the rise to power of Davutoglu-Erdogan neo-Ottomanism was born, the generals (Kemalists) were set aside, without being completely devalued and the strategy was upgraded.
The necessary introduction was made to present the samples or better the consequences of this foreign policy in Thrace. Turkish propaganda has raged in recent months with visits by generals, festivals, troupe tours and, most recently, wrestling matches. All this, according to the neighbors, is done to strengthen relations with the motherland and also to preserve the "customs" that are lost in the depths of the centuries. They found religion as a pretext and plowed the area by building schools, banks, aid institutions in order to Turkishize them. Last year's tour of the gray wolf leader in the area is not just a coincidence. Turkey gives weight to the minority by brainwashing, promoting the idea of autonomy and / or the creation of an independent Thrace (there is also a relevant flag).
In all this, Greece is whistling indifferently. He left Thrace at the mercy of the barbarians. The consulate of Komotini is still open, the attempt of the teachers (Hara Nikopoulou) to teach Greek culture to the children of the Pomaks is resisted first by the Ministry of Education and then by the Turks. The area was deliberately underdeveloped so that the imams and their paramilitary groups could plow the area undisturbed. Through propaganda, there are the voices of Greek Muslims who resist propaganda. But the political leadership ignores them provocatively, whistling indifferently.
Somewhere here comes the comparison of the situation with Cyprus before '74. With the donated constitution of the '60s and the upgrading of the Turks of the island into a community, the co-ownership of the island began with guarantors Greece, England, Turkey. The result of this co-ownership was the penetration of Turkish propaganda and the creation of terrorist groups.
Exactly the same situation today in Thrace. The imams and the various consular institutes of Ottomanism plow the area as I mentioned above. The only difference is that it now becomes apparent with the tolerance-complicity of the state. No Greek government took the issue seriously, recalling the ignorance (?) Of the newly formed and still unripe Cypriot state about arming the Turkish Cypriots. We must also not ignore the situation that prevailed in the region then and now. Then we had the Cold War, the interests of NATO and the full-fledged preservation of its southeastern wing intact. In addition, there was turmoil inside Turkey and the country was not at its best.
Today again, conditions are not better. The so-called Arab Spring has destabilized rather than stabilized the region. The conflict in Syria, the Kurdish conflict, the Kemalist hunt and their ongoing conflict with Erdogan's Islamists (Taksim Square outbreak) undermine the Turkish people's confidence in the government and the army. Also, the growing power and influence of the Russians in the region does not seem to have pleased both them and the Americans.
Without wanting to risk, I believe that unfortunately, we are not far from cases of burning windows as was the case before '74 in Cyprus. The provocation in my opinion will be the match that will light the fire in Thrace and from there throughout Greece. Unfortunately, the similarities between the two cases are many. The comparison was made to concern the situation in the region based on the similarity of the conditions that prevailed in '74 and today.
I believe that the situation in Thrace is very sensitive, if not the most sensitive due to its specificity (population, geographical). The question is why does the government not react? Except for some MPs, the Greek state remains apathetic. Provocative indifference reaches the limits of betrayal. Do they want to sell eastern Thrace to the Turks?
Chrysostomos Loukas
Medical student