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Batı Trakya Azınlığı Yüksek Tahsilliler Derneği |
| Genç Akademisyenler Topluluğu |
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Batı Trakya Azınlığı Yüksek Tahsilliler Derneği |
| Genç Akademisyenler Topluluğu |
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Umut
Foundation,
Conference on
"The
Emerging Role of NGO's and INGO's
in
Regional Cooperation, PeaceMaking and Conflict Resolution
in
Balkans, Middle East and Turkey"
Sponsored
by
US
Information Agency, Fullbright Commission, Dedeman Hotels
25-27 April 1997
İstanbul
1. ABSTRACT
This article is about the Western Thrace Turkish Muslim
Minority NGO's in Western Thrace, Greece. It describes the society structure,
points out the basic debates going on the area. Describes the main problems
that the NGO's are facing in the area, some problems risen by the political
oppression, some from the society's mentality, some from the outcomes of
the oppression. It analyzes the NGO's, that are active in Turkey, in Europe,
in Germany and in UK, and it goes to a deeper analysis on the basic NGO's
of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority in Greece. After the analysis of
the NGO's it proposes prospective roles of the NGO's in a world where there
is a general trend of the NGO's to take more role on international politics.
It then argues its proposals and tries to define the positive outcomes
from getting them into real life. It proposes some methods to solve the
problems of these NGO's. It concludes with pointing out that Thrace is
an area where both culture are living still together and that this is a
great chance of proving that both communities can become mediums of peace
in the area.
2. METHODOLOGY
Western Thrace Turkish Minority is a society that was
a point of dispute a separate issue between the two countries from the
time it was left as a minority in Greece. Although there are a lot of written
literature on the issue most of them either represents the points of the
two states or it is written in an ideological basis to serve as a tool
of propaganda. Unfortunately research done in a serious academic manner
on the area are not a lot. The need for academic research is quite new.
There is a Ph.D. Thesis on the Western Thrace Turkish Minority problems
of Dr. Halit Eren, who is a former president of the Western Thrace Turks
Solidarity Association but it has not printed and it is not found publicly.
There is a new Ph.D. Thesis research conducted by Vemund Aarbake, a Norwegian
researcher from the University of Bergen, Norway, but it is still on the
writing process. There is a serious book written in an academic manner
form Baskın Oran, a professor in Ankara University. The book has the title
"Türk Yunan ilişkilerinde Batı Trakya sorunu", and it is maybe the most
serious work done in the area.
It was not an easy task to prepare a paper on the issue. We tried to be as much academic as we could but the paper may lack academic sufficiency. There are a lot of ideas reflecting the thoughts of the author. The evaluations about the NGO's are based on the experiences of the author, gained on the relations and activities on/with these NGO's and they may rise debates.
The ideas about integration and getting in network and cooperation with Greek majority NGO's are reflecting the debates are done among the members of Young Academicians' Club. These are not clear positions and are open to any kind of debates. But the number of educated people seeking these ideas to become a reality is growing day by day.
3. BRIEF ABOUT THE WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY IN GREECE
Geographical place
Western Thrace is the North Eastern part of Greece, having
a border in East with Turkey and a border with Bulgaria at north. It is
an area populated by around 300.000 in three provinces. The Eastern province
is populated mostly from Greeks and the Middle province of Komotini half
by Turkish minority and half by Greek Majority. The 3rd province, Xanthi
35% by Turkish minority, and the rest by the Greek majority.
Official Minority on the Context of Treaty of Lausanne
The Turkish Minority in the area has been left there
from the Treaty of Lausanne, where a Greek Minority has been left in İstanbul
to continue the presence of the Religious Patriarchy in İstanbul. The minority’s
different rights have been based on the Treaty of Lausanne. Different agreements
between Turkey and Greece have regulated the details that have not mentioned
in the Treaty.
Social Structure
It is easily observable from many aspects that the minority's
social structure is a continuation of the Ottoman social structure for
long time. Here we have to make a comparison with the Turkish social structure
living in Turkey to understand the differences and similarities continuing
in the minority(2) . The main institution in Thrace is
the Muftis(3) the vaqfs (Vakıflar). Then after the
educational organization. There are still a lot of people living in Thrace
that prefer to keep their personal notes in Arabic(4)
or Ottoman alphabet and this is because of the medrese education which
continued till very recently till 60’ies. Both in Komotini and in
Xanthi but mainly in Xanthi were regions there where big landlords were
living till mid 60’ies. These landlords were quite powerful both politically
and economically. Many of them were counting their yields of gold coins
with pots. These were the only available to send their children for further
education to İstanbul or to Edirne high schools.
Most of the population were small landowners or peasants.
There was no industry in the area. And no way for going further and developing
economically. These landlords emigrated to Turkey and they sold all their
lands to Greeks of the region who were able to take big amounts of long
term, low interest profits to be able to purchase the land from the Turks.
And they did.
Nowadays economically talking around the 20% of the land belongs to Western Thrace Turkish Minority members where there are no big land owners any more(5) . There is no accumulated capital with almost no investment locally, most of the emigrants and those still living in the area has invested their wealth mostly in different regions of Turkey.
The main profession on the area is in the service sector. There are a lot of specialist like plumbers, planters, building workers, and craftsman. The schooling level is low, but there are around 250 university graduates from different majors. Health group of professionals like doctors, dentists pharmacists are the biggest one. There are few engineers, mostly civil engineers. The management and economics graduates are also a big group but most of them are not able to perform their profession.
There is a serious lack of Enterpreneurship and the society is not informed on the economic issues.(6)
Influence of Turkey and Greece
The minority society has been always effected by
the developments that occurred both in Turkey and Greece. The fluctuations
in the political life in Greece and the Fluctuations in the Cultural and
political sense in Turkey has effected deeply the minority in Greece.
As good examples the main historical events in both countries that had
effected the minority are as follows:
In cultural sense, the shift to the Latin characters
in Turkish Language, the drastic changes in the Turkish society in Turkey,
such as the shift to a more secular lifestyle and educational system, the
different other changes in the spoken and written language were all factors
of different debates in the minority. The political fluctuations in Turkey
and in Greece have effected the society.
To understand this, we need to know all the story of
how Western Thrace was left to Greece and according to which international
treaties and conventions Greece and Turkey were bounded to protect the
minority rights.
Brief history of area
Until 1878 the year that the Russians occupied the area
and they signed the treaty of Ayastefanos the area was an Ottoman
province and the population was mostly Muslim Turkish. The language of
communication was Turkish. A typical Ottoman land.
Then after the Russian occupation they established a Bulgarian Principality at Berlin Treaty 1878. From then and on the Thrace area was under Bulgarian occupation whereas the Western Thrace area was still under Ottoman occupation.
After the First World War the Ottoman Empire was defeated and they left the area of Western Thrace to the victorious powers of the War. The victorious power had conflicts among them on sharing the newly conquered lands. Considering this as chance the Ottoman army invaded the Eastern Thrace and took it back. Some troops of the Ottoman army continued and took the Western Thrace back. But the Palace in the obligation to the Treaty of Berlin didn’t recognized the newly occupied lands and the armed troops with the support of the civil population established the 1st Turkish Republic in the history, Turkish Republic of Western Thrace, 1913. But the palace with the fear of another type of governing way and the fear of growing alternative ways of hegemony, denied its role and didn’t recognize the Republic although both Bulgarian and Greeks from different perspectives and for serving different aims recognized it Republic. At the en, the Ottomans army officials left the lands to the Bulgarian army officials at 1913. The lands occupied from Bulgarians from 1913 to 1918.
At the Paris Peace Conference for strategic reasons, the victorious powers of the 1st World War decided to restrict the dominance of Bulgaria and the access of it to Aegean Sea. But they had no solution for who would be inherit of these lands. Finally at the Neuilly-sur-Seine (shortly Neully Treaty) in 1919 they decided to commit a plebiscite to ask the population under which country they would like to live. From November 1919 the area was occupied in the name of allied armies from General Charpy. The General had a lot of support from the local Turkish officials. Also Bulgaria with the disappointment of loosing these lands preferred to have a neighbor other than Greece or Ottoman Empire. That’s why it was easily acceptable to have an allied authority in Western Thrace.
The plebiscite took place in 1920 and the delegation elected to decide to which country they should join decided to join Greece. There is a lot of debate under what conditions these delegates decided in this way .(8)
In 1920 the famous 2345/1920 law about the appointment
of the local religious leaders named "Mufti".
1920 is the first year of the Greek occupation. From
then and on till nowadays the lands belong to Greece. This was officially
accepted from all parties in the Lausanne Treaty.(9)
There are many temporary debating issues on the minority. Most of them are chronic and are springing from the non reliance on the treaties and the special protocols that both countries have signed in the past. Also the story of Western Thrace Turkish Minority has become a tool of diplomacy in the hands of both Turkey and Greece. It is commonly known that there are many different problems among these two countries and Western Thrace Turkish Minority has become one issue a main one between these two countries.
Unfortunately the story of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority is one with many key issues, some major issues are the education issue, the issue of electing the religious leader, the political restrictions, the economical pressures.
Each of the issues are still on debates and many NGO's in Greece, in European Union and in Turkey has become main actors on voicing these problems on the national and international political platforms. As the purpose of this paper is not voicing these problems we would like to direct the interested readers to the list of publications and NGO's that can be contacted for further detailed information on the reference section at the end of paper.
Ghetto or assimilation? What about integration?
To be able to understand many points on our following
problems of the NGO's in Western Thrace Turkish Minority we have to additionally
point out to another issue which is on debate but without being fully aware
of the case. The minority society is living in a kind of a Getto life style.
The difference on culture on religion on language and the acceptance of
being a minority has created a natural close society. The society is not
open in communication with the Greek majority and the communication is
always kept in basic level, for the transactions in trade, for the daily
exchange purposes, for the army duty. The minority speaks a different language
from the majority. Having the psychology of minority it is afraid of getting
involved to much with the Greek majority for a probable trial of assimilation.
"Assimilation" a French word is widely known. The fear for assimilation
serves for keeping the minority as a unity closed to itself and open only
to Turkey. This can be easily observed from the transfer of the wealth
slowly to Turkey, with the brain drain to Turkey, with immigration to Turkey
and with immigration for educational purposes to Turkey.
Greek governments observing these reality is searching for solutions. One solution is motivating to immigration. But as the birth rate is around 3% the number of inhabitants has not decreased over the years. Another solution is to trying to assimilate with different means. Political, social, economic, cultural, religious, educational pressure with different instruments. But oppression created reaction. The 80'ies are full of stories of reactions. Another solution, which is newly debated within different circles, is to try to integrate. This we think maybe the best solution. Integration to the community of the country which the population is the citizens of it.
The same idea of integration is debated in the last two or three years within different NGO's in Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
4. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS ON THE STRUCTURES OF NGO's,
AND THEIR GENERALLY ACCEPTED ROLE.
Before getting insight and analyze the NGO's in their
own contexts, we would like to give some more information about their main
characteristics.
Massive members,
Almost all the NGO's are having a big number of members.
Almost all members are supporting the NGO's in their activities by participating
its activities of greetings in Bayram Fests or its public activities. There
is always a kind of more involved member who are close to the administrative
board, a natural advisory board-like group of members. They can be somehow
effective and active in mobilizing people, other members for massive actions.
Members when are well motivated and well treated and informed about the
relations and recent developments they are contributing to finance the
different activities.
Administrative Board
Although all NGO's are having big number of members the
administrative board is always a group of people who have devoted their
time mostly to the activities of the NGO. These people are usually getting
a kind of pleasure and a satisfaction by being involved or by being in
the leading team of the NGO. But unfortunately the number of the activists
is not big. It won't be wrong to calculate them by doubling the number
of the administrative board. The rest of the members are those who would
just like to be members or are satisfied by just being members. This is
a natural limitation and a kind of natural factor that is limiting the
number or the quality of the activities, which are organized.
The President, The Leader
Almost all the NGO's presidents have to be a leader.
This is an expectation that can be readily observed at the members of these
NGO's but not only at them but also at the whole local society. So the
person that is willing to be the President or the Chairman of the NGO has
to devote a lot of time, energy, words, and financial wealth to the NGO
to be an effective and successful leader-president.
Economic Problems
Almost all NGO's are facing financial difficulties. The
main incomes are generally the membership fees, and the irregular contributions
of some wealthy members, and earnings from different come-together events.
Those who are issuing magazines are financing this activity by accepting
advertisements on the magazines.
Unfortunately almost all the NGO's are lacking of
financial planning and of regular financial incomes. Financing is done
usually in project basis and project by project. There is not adequate
knowledge or entrepreneurial spirit on using financial sources to create
more finance.
Almost all NGO's act in a sense that their main responsibility
is to voice the presence of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority or to voice
the different type of problem the minority is facing.
5. THE NGO's IN TURKEY.
There are two main NGO's that are always active on the
issue in Turkey. The main role of these NGO's has to be considered
in two headings. The first is to act for the interests of those who are
living in Greece temporarily and for those who have immigrated to Turkey
but are facing problems of different nature.
Batı Trakya Türkleri Dayanışma Derneği
(Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association)
It is the oldest NGO founded in 1954 in İstanbul by a
group of people who had immigrated from Greece to Turkey. The group of
intellectual who formed the Association remained in power for a decade
then after the NGO's administration changed hands. Almost in each period
there were some key leaders who guided the Association.
Today it has become an omnipotent NGO, a policy maker, policy follower and an amplifier for the different voices, which are seeking to reach their voices to the officials not only at Turkey but also at the international arena. It has realized the emerging role of the massive and powerful NGO's at the last years of 80'ies and has developed its network of members by establishing brunches in different neighbors of İstanbul and at the main cities of Turkey where immigrants from Western Thrace are living.
Main Function of the Head Quarters
The main activities of the Head Quarters are to organize
strategic activities to create a public opinion in Turkey about the current
situation in the area. This is by organizing press conferences for the
media, or by issuing press releases for the media. The media related with
the Turkish-Greek is aware of the position of the Western Thrace Turks
Solidarity Association and is always following its releases on the issues.
It is also organizing panels with academicians from different
universities to find new horizons, new ideas to continue its work on voicing
the new events and problems occurring periodically.
It is issuing a magazine for more than a decade called BATI TRAKYA'NIN SESİ ( The voice of Western Thrace) which is a kind of a reference for the researchers who are seeking to explore events about the developments on the area. (10)
Another interesting activity was to organize two conventions at 95 and 96 springs where it managed to bring together all the relevant NGO's from Western Thrace Turkish Minority, Greece, Europe, Australia and Turkey, some European academicians and journalist who are related with the issues. Also the most important point was that the elected local governors from the Western Thrace Turkish Minority was invited and most of them attended the meeting .(11)
The Head Quarters is also acting as an interest group to voice the problems of those who have immigrated from Greece and are in "haymatlos" or non-citizens which are waiting to be granted with the Turkish citizenship.
Some of the less important issues are the Head Quarters is organizing parties to bring together its members from different cities of Turkey.
Activities carried out from the branches
The branches are acting much more as places where the
members around it may come together and chat, or talk about the recent
events, or just share experiences of past.
Also they are some times assisting the Head Quarters on its head activities. Many times they are taking the responsibilities of organizing parties, panels with specific topics. Also they are lobbying local authorities on the interest of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority immigrants on the area. The difference on the activities and level of being active depends on the board members attitude and will to initiate and organize activities, from branch to branch.
Batı Trakya Eğitim Sağlık Kültür Vakfı
(Western Thrace Foundation for Education Health and
Culture)
It is the youngest organization founded recently at the
beginning of 97 with the aim of acting with more flexibility and to be
able to organize activities which will rise funds for the future activities.
The initiator of the idea and the founders are wealthy immigrants. It is
a very new foundation which has not yet shown any activity.
Batı Trakya Eğitim Kültür ve Cami Yaptırma Vakfı
(Western Thrace Foundation for Education, Culture
and Mosque Building)
Founded at 1990 with the aim of giving scholarships to
university students and building mosques in the areas where emigrants from
Western Thrace Turkish Minority are living in Turkey. their first activity
was to built a mosque in Zeytinburnu. They have not printed any printed
material, any activity report. They are continuing their activities quietly
without crowding on any issue or without voicing any political issue.
6. THE NGO's IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
There is a considerable number of workers which are living
mainly in Germany from the beginning of 60'ies. These workers which are
living with their families at Germany and also at some other EU countries
have formed their own association different from the Turkish citizen
workers association.
The number of the association is more than 20 in different cities around Germany and some major cities in UK and also in Holland. The chance or the advantage of those workers is that there are many well educated people, intellectuals in between them and they are more aware of the realities and of the possible ways of voicing the problems of the area.
International Political pressure group
The Western Thrace Turkish Minority Solidarity Associations
Federation the powerful NGO in Europe has become an international pressure
group which is amplifying the voices of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority
NGO's or the civil elected local governors which are facing problems in
the area. It has contacted a lot of members of European Parliament
and other officials from different international institutions to inform
them about the violations of human rights at Greece. It has also gain accreditation
from the UN in different world summit which the last one was in HABITAT
II World Summit where it has attended the NGO forum.
6.1. The NGO's in Germany
European Federation of Western Thrace Turkish Minority Solidarity Associations
The NGO's in Germany as mentioned just above are over
20. In different centers, in different towns. The headquarters are in Frankfurt.
The headquarters are organizing all the main lobbying activities, lobbying
members of the German Parliament, informing German and international NGO's
about the cases the oppressions of Greeks in Western Thrace Turkish
Minority.
The Head Quarters are a unit where a group of activist people are planning the activities and coordinating different other activities of the local associations.
6.2. The NGO's in United Kingdom
The founders and leaders of the NGO's in UK are mostly
university students of masters degrees or generally postgraduate studies
students which are living in different cities around UK. The main characteristics
of these NGO's are that they are quite active although their size is smaller
considered the other local NGO's in Turkey Germany and Greece. Most of
the associations are leaded by people who have open horizons, can think
internationally, can act in international sense.
They are able of using modern technology, computers. They are on the Internet, and they are the first within the minority who initiated the web sites for Western Thrace Turkish Minority, and Thrace discussion list. (12)
They are aware of international politics, they are multilingual. Most of them are able talking, writing in Greek, Turkish, English and some in French or German also. They are also easily contacting the UK based NGO's related with human rights.
6.3. Other NGO's in other countries
There is also an NGO in Australia, which is formed by
those workers who immigrated in Australia in the search for a better life.
7. THE NGO's IN GREECE
Greece is the area where Western Thrace Turkish Minority
is living and is facing the problems everyday. There are a lot of debating
issues as mentioned above mainly, in political, social, cultural and educational
arena.
NGO's in many years and periods, has become the arena, the subject of oppression in many ways. The main reason was that the NGO's are the only civil organizations where people can join and organize activities to survive the culture or to support education in via different means. This can be observed by the activities which were held by the NGO's before facing the problem of the famous "TURK" word.
The se NGO's are also centers where minority members come together to debate about many issues and to form at least basic strategies about reactions, and other activities.
7.1. The interesting story of the famous word "TÜRK"
and the destiny of the local NGO's
The main political debate on Western Thrace Turkish Minority
among the two countries is on its identity. It is a point were Greece is
thinking and acting in sense and in terminology of pre cold war.
Greece is a nation state as also Turkey is. Greece claims that all the
people living in its borders are Greeks. They are named and should be called
Greek, according to nation state terminology. What differs the minority
from majority is its religion. There is only a Greek Muslim minority living
in Greece and everything related itself is an internal problem of Greece,
claim the Greek officials. The argument for this point of view of The Greek
state is that the minority is named and considered as a religious minority
in the famous Treaty of Lausanne. (13)
From the other side the Turkish state claims that this minority may be named a religious minority but the responsible of this minority is Turkey. This people are talking Turkish are a having Turkish culture, are Muslims in the ways Turks are. Turkey calls them Turkish in Ethnic origin, Muslim in Religion and Greek Citizens.
Minority defines itself as Turkish in ethnic origin, Muslim in Religion and Greek Citizen and European Citizen. Almost exactly the same way as Turkish State claims. This positioning of the minority is not a superficial one. One can test this by observing the immigration waves throughout 1923, the continuing slow immigration for education to Turkish secondary schools and universities, and also the flow of the wealth of minority citizens to Turkey. (14)
This main debate about the ethnic identity and the way
the Greek Governments and state officials perceive it creates the different
type of problems. For example in the elections of 1989 Dr. Sadık Ahmet
(the recently died Political leader of Western Thrace Turkish Minority)
and İbrahim Şerif was sentenced 8 moths for claiming themselves Turkish
candidates in printed pamphlets. This story has attracted the interest
of Helsinki Watch of Human Rights group and they prepared a booklet describing
all the oppressions risen from the denial of Ethnic identity.
Especially with the NGO's we have to mention that in
1988 the Greek courts also outlawed the use of the word "Turkish" minority.
In 1988, the Greek High Court affirmed a 1986 decision by the Court of
Appeals of Thrace in which Turkish Union of İskeçe (Xanthi), Komotini Turkish
Youth Union, Turkish Teachers Union, was ordered closed. The Court held
that the word "Turkish" referred to citizens of Turkey and that the use
of the word "Turkish" to describe Greek Moslems was held to endanger public
order.
This decision has led to vigorous protestations of the Turkish Minority. As a result of the High Court's decision, most Turkish NGO's have remained closed officially but working in minimal level legitimately in the society. This willingness to continuing to operate was and still is a kind of silent protest.
7.2. Brain Drain
Unfortunately there is high brain drain in the area.
People are following different educational paths. A mixture of taking education
in Greece or in Turkey, within different type of schools, technical, religious,
classic. As a results the university graduates are becoming alienated with
the social tissue of the minority society .(15)
This one of the main problems that the administrative boards of the people are of low or middle level education. Most of them are primary schools graduates or the highest are high school graduates. University graduates are rarely seen in the administrative boards. The only NGO where university graduates are seen is the Batı Trakya Azınlığı Yüksek Tahsilliler Derneği where the main criteria to be a member is to have a graduate title.
It is not difficult to understand the reason for the lack
of vision and flexibility from the administrative bodies.
This also creates a dilemma at the younger generation
: to return or not; to take part or not. The already leading people are
not clear on that point. They say publicly that they are open to young
generations but they are not showing this clearly in their behavior. Most
of them are unaware of the potential the younger generations are carrying
and they are not willing to leave their prestigious positions to the yesterdays
children.
So we have a case of inaction of the high educated people at the local NGO's. Those who have returned back are still in the process of integrating in the minority society and taking part in it from the economic aspect. A group of the highly educated are not willing to participate in social organizations having nasty past experiences from their university years. Some haven't yet realized their social status and the potential they are carrying on themselves.
7.3. Financial Problems Of The NGO's In Greece
The approach of the executive boards to financial problems
are mostly in the accountant context. There are no financial managers in
the NGO's but this is because the society still doesn’t have finance people
working in the are. All the Management, economy major graduates are practicing
as accountants. There are no big companies, not big capital in the hands
of an organized group. The lack of a good example in business life makes
this more difficult to conceptualize.
Also there are usually few activities, which are not seeking great amounts to spend. The idea of sponsorship is totally new and not very well conceptualized, understood neither by the small business owners, nor by the society. There is nobody to give a help for the sake to be a sponsor. But from the other hand there are always some generous people who are contributing to youth activities mainly for sentimental reasons.
The regular incomes of the NGO's are the Parties organized biannually, and are the only place where many members are coming together to celebrate mainly the Bayram fest.
Membership fees are not a major income source because members are not usually paying regularly and there is not a concept of following up those who pay and those who don't pay.
7.4. The inability of creating new strategies and producing
new projects.
As we have mentioned before the society is living in
a ghetto lifestyle, close to itself and looking inside, instead of looking
outside as it should be. This reality is also a natural barrier for the
new ideas the new voices not only related to the political paths
to be followed or to the new alternative political voices but also to simple
social issues.
Those who are coming with new and radical ideas are blamed of "having lost the way", some times they are opposed as "betrayers". Generally we can say that there is a general fear to the new ideas. It is some how easily to understand this in the context that the minorities generally are conservative in the fear of loosing its values, or being assimilated in the majority
7.5. The Organizational and Managerial Problems
of the NGO's
It has mentioned from the beginning that almost all the
NGO's are having simple and classical organizations. Although they are
massive organizations with members more than thousands there are very simple
administrative bodies, executive board which is elected on annually basis
from the general assembly which is usually the citizens that are living
around in the towns or in the villages.
The president is or has to be or is expected to be also the leader of the associations. But because the presidents and the administrative board is elected annually, because the presidency means also running a lot and spending a lot of time usually those who are elected don’t have good managerial skills and are not having the necessary time to get a kind of an education about management. Usually they are lacking any kind of leadership specifications or skills and are unsuccessful on communicating their ideas with people.
7.6. Training programs for the managers of the NGO's
Then the question rises is it possible to develop special
programs to enhance the managerial skills of those on the administration.
This is a topic that has not ever debated in the minority. Actually probably
some people have thought some times, about organizing special seminars
to help NGO's managers to improve their managerial skills but probably
they didn’t considered that seriously.
Unfortunately although there are specials NGO's with specific roles there is no care for the future of these NGO's. Usually there is no strategic planning at all and the activities are based on giving responses on daily issues
7.7. Main NGO's
7.7.1. Advisory Board (Danışma Kurulu)
It is the informal but legitimate committee having its
routes in the late '70'ies. It has been formed and reformed many times.
Its latest form occurred in 6th January 1997(16)
and the new president of it was elected at 23rd of February. The New President
is Adem Bekiroğlu. A lawyer living in Gümülcine (Komotini). A multilingual
personality which has not participated in politics before. But his knowledge
of English and education is giving the sense of trust to many executives
of the member NGO's leaders in the Advisory Board. (17)
It's activities and the need for it
It satisfies the need for local coordination, among the
presidents of different NGO's, representatives of those elected. It is
also the strategic group that determines and shows the basic strategic
paths to be followed on special cases. It is the highest institution of
the minority gaining full respect almost from all members of the Western
Thrace Turkish Minority. It is the Board that Organizes the relations and
the strategic responses(18) of the minority in
national and international level.
Members
It is a leader based platform consisted of the presidents
of the of the different NGO's, locally elected community mayors, Members
of the Parliament, ex Members of the Parliament, elected members of Municipality
and Provincial Parliaments.
7.7.2. Supreme Council of the Minority (Azınlık Yüksek
Kurulu)
It is the informal but legitimate broad platform of the
elected, where all the NGO's, elected local community mayors, and some
profession groups are represented. It also has it routes from late 70'ies.
It has formed and reformed many times. For the last it has been formed
in 6th January 1997 together with the advisory board.
It has become the forum for better and faster communication. It has created a platform of debating about future activities and exchange of activities.
7.7.3. Western Thrace Turkish Minority Scientists Association
(Batı Trakya Azınlığı Yüksek Tahsilliler Derneği)
Founded in 1982 by a group of idealist University
graduates from different professions with the aim to create a platform
within the minority where members could express their political positions
and their political opinions. After the problems with the other NGO's having
the word Turkish in their Official Names the Western Thrace Turkish Minority
Scientists Association has become the only official and the only legitimate
and omnipotent NGO in the minority. But unfortunately the boards that has
been in the power has not fully utilized its potential sources, power
and status because of not being aware of it.
Most of the executives that has taken power till now have
not being able to plan long term activities.
A good example of its power and its status is that
many times the different letters that it has sent to bureaucrats,
ministers and politicians have been answered. They have been able to attract
the interest of the national and the international media on the minorities
hot issues many times till now.
7.7.4. Turkish Union of Xanthi
İskeçe Türk Birliği
Founded in 1927 is the oldest NGO of Western Thrace Turkish
Muslim Minority in Greece. Its history is quite important and inspiring
more research. These research could be very interesting on declaring the
Turkish presence from 1923 to today and its different social, economic
and politic changes it has taken.
In its past, it has organized many interesting activities. It maintained a successful football team which was playing in the local leagues. It had musical activities, basic musical classes for the beginners, it had organized Theater activities with the youth in late 60'ies, in 70'ies and in early 80'ies. It was the center for socialization in proud way. It maintained a one room library with basic encyclopedias, literature books to serve the Turks in Xanthi-İskeçe and those from the around villages. It had maintained folklore dance courses for high school students.
Some of the previous activities like folklore and music classes for the teenagers are continuing but unfortunately in minimum level. With the affirmation of the decision of Appeals of Thrace by the Greek High Court about the destiny of the famous debated word "Turkish" the İTB become an unofficial NGO and had to slowdown its activities. Activities like theater and Football are not organized with the fear from the official authorities.
But from the other hand they have started sewing courses for the teenage girls in the building of the NGO in week day mornings. Specially for those who decide to not continue their education after junior high school. They are also promoting the organization of the youth via letting them to initiate parties, and other cultural activities via the sub commission that is working since 1988 and is named Youth Executive Committee (Gençlik Yürütme Kurulu) .(19)
Library is continuing to work without crowding. An amateur football team always exist to play with any village football team but it is not an organized one as in the 70'ies.
Problems?
Al these activities are continuing with many temporary
problems. An association with around 1700 registered members can not work
effectively. It does not have communication means. The National Telecommunication
Company does not give a line to an non official organization. The administration
boards are not intending to change the word Turkish from their original
name as they accept the case as a political tool to deny their existence.
It lacks of educated board members. It does not act quickly with the fear of doing wrong. It is absolutely inflexible and is understandable. It is the only NGO in Xanthi-İskeçe but from this tight political constraints it is unable to satisfy all the needs of the Turkish Minority society in Xanthi
Its Future ?
First of all İskeçe Türk Birliği has to resolve the problem
of being unofficial. It is a problem of legal matter superficially but
political in the deep inside. Next it has to attract educated people in
its board to be able to develop further. It has to plan future activities
thinking more in social terms. It has to get in contact and maybe has to
involve in organic communication with Greek NGO's in are to communicate
its position.
7.7.5. Gümülcine Türk Gençler Birliği
Komotini Turkish Youth Association
Founded in 1928 is the 2nd oldest NGO of Western Thrace
Turkish Muslim Minority in Greece. Its history is quite important and inspiring
more research also. These research could be very interesting on declaring
the Turkish presence in Komotini, from 1923 to today and its different
social, economic and politic changes it has taken.
In its past, it has organized many interesting activities.
It maintained a successful football team which was playing in the local
leagues. It had musical activities, basic musical classes for the beginners,
it had organized Theater activities with the youth in late 60'ies,
in 70'ies and in early 80'ies. It was the center for socialization in a
proud way. It maintained a one room library with basic encyclopedias, literature
books to serve the Turks in Komotini-Gümülcine and those from the around
villages. It had maintained folklore dance courses for high school students.
With the affirmation of the decision of Appeals of Thrace
by the Greek High Court about the destiny of the famous debated word "Turkish"
the GTGB become an unofficial NGO and had to slowdown its activities. Activities
like theater and Football are not organized with the fear from the
official authorities.
Library is continuing to work without crowding.
Problems?
An association with around 400 registered members can
not work effectively. It does not have communication means. The National
Telecommunication Company does not give a line to an non official organization.
The administration boards are not intending to change the word Turkish
from their original name as they accept the case as a political tool to
deny their existence. It lacks of educated board members. It is absolutely
inflexible and is understandable also.
Its Future ?
First of all GTGB has to resolve the problem of being unofficial. It is a problem of legal matter superficially but political in the deep inside. Next it has to attract educated people in its board to be able to develop. It has to plan future activities thinking more in social terms. It has to get in contact and maybe has to involve in organic communication with Greek NGO's in are to communicate its position.
7.7.6. Batı Trakya Türk Öğretmenler Birliği
Western Thrace Turkish Teachers Union
It is an NGO whom members are the teachers who had graduated
from Turkish Educational academies in mid 60'ies, according to the Cultural
Protocol Greece and Turkey signed in 1951. They are around 300 members.
But only around 100 of them are working. Most of them are quite aged and
close to retirement. Almost all of them will be retired in 5 to 10 years.
Founded in 1934 is the 3rd oldest NGO of Western Thrace Turkish Muslim Minority in Greece. Its history is quite important and inspiring for more research also. These researches could be very interesting on declaring the Turkish presence from 1923 to today and its different social, economic and politic changes it has taken from the aspect of the education. Education also was a big debate in almost all decades in Western Thrace but the content of it was changing continuously.
Beginning from late 60'ies and early 70'ies its members quite active and young were very creative. They organized theater activities, musical activities. They were issuing a magazine with the name Öğretmen (Teacher)(20) It maintained a one room library with basic encyclopedias, literature books to serve the Turks in Xanthi-İskeçe and in Komotini Gümülcine.
They were the people who bring new ideas, western ideas to the society. They were the kind of reformists. They bring the Latin character and they bring the ideas of secularism in Western Thrace. And the fruits of their contributions to society are the around 4000(21) university graduates from then till know.
With the affirmation of the decision of Appeals of Thrace by the Greek High Court about the destiny of the famous debatable word "Turkish" the İTB become an unofficial NGO and had to slowdown its activities. But not only the legal procedures but their age also have made them slow and tired. As many of them are serving as teachers for more than 30 years
But from the other hand they have started sewing courses for the teenage girls in the building of the NGO in Komotini-Gümülcine, in weekday mornings. Especially for those who decide to not continue their education after junior high school.
Problems?
They are facing problems of quite different nature than
other NGO's. Their primary concern has become their social security. They
are completing their teaching life and they are not sure for
their future. The NGO also does not have communication means. The
National Telecommunication Company does not give a line to an non official
organization. The administration boards are not intending to change the
word Turkish from their original name as they accept the case as a political
tool to deny their existence.
Its Future ?
Many members of the NGO is trying to integrate, to join
Western Thrace Minority's Scientist Association, the only legal, and officially
recognized NGO. This is a method to try to leave all wealth of the NGO,
to another stronger one, or just to find a legal body to express itself.
The Western Thrace Turkish Teacher Association has to
be open to new graduates of education faculty majors to continue their
presence in the future.
7.7.7. Associations of Special Pedagogic Academy of
Thessaloniki Graduates (Selanik Özel Pedagoji Akademisi Mezunları
Dernekleri)
Another interesting debate issue that is tightly related
with the education is that the minority also is deprived of the right to
choose their own teachers. Since 1968, the Greek State is unilaterally
training "minority teachers" in the "Special Pedagogical Academy of Thessaloniki".
These teachers, chosen and educated arbitrarily by the Greek government,
lack basic qualifications and even have difficulty in speaking proper Turkish(22)
. They are trained by Greek professor, they are taught Greek language and
Greek culture, and they are supposed to teach the Turkish children in the
primary schools. There are many case of young children with wrong pronunciation,
unable to communicate correctly in their own language. These teachers seems
to be trained specially to serve the already existing ghetto style life
of the society unable to communicate freely .(23)
The number of the teacher who have graduated from this academy is growing and there was a need for coordination. Then the Associations of Special Pedagogic Academy of Thessaloniki Graduates were found one in Komotini and other in Xanthi to be able to coordinate the activities of these teachers in beginning 90'ies.
But from the other hand the question rise "Who would be volunteer to be a teacher in that much negative atmosphere and what is the motivation ?".Those who are following these special academy are 18'years teenager mostly unaware of the political games and the negative feelings in the society. The stronger motivation is the delighting salary (round 2000 DM).
Its Future ?
Although there is a lot of debate with negative attitude
about these teachers in society, it seems that the Western Thrace Turkish
Minority education will be in their hands in the next decades. Other NGO's
in the society having realized this they are trying to establish at least
good relations in the NGO's level to embrace these teachers and to
be able to help them in the difficulties they may experience.
7.7.8. Genç Akademisyenler Topluluğu
(Young Academicians' Club)
Founded in 28th January 1995 by a group of around 40
university students in Komotini Greece. It has been founded by the permission
and decision of the general Assembly of the Western Thrace Minority Scientists
Association general assembly as the association sub committee. Although
it is a sub-committee in the WTMSA they act as a self-determined, separate
group. Its own board administers them. The Board of WTMSA acts as an advisory
board.
It is the newest, the Youngest NGO of Western Thrace Turkish Muslim Minority consisted of university students from universities from Greece, Turkey, Germany, UK and Bulgaria. There is a variety of majors among the members. But Management and International Relations students are dominant within other majors.
In their 2 years life they organized 7 panels, 3 festivals, participated to joint activities with other NGO's. In very short time they attracted the attention of almost all related NGO's with their potential energy, creativity, flexibility and quickness. They have been invited to participate to the High Council of Minority with 5 seats.
They have the new vision of the new generation. Realized the rights and duties of being Greek citizens, minority in Greece, being European citizens. Most of them are bilingual, many are multilingual. They are able of using technology and they are open to communication outward.
Problems
Some of their main problems are financial constraints
and time constraints. They don’t have regular incomes. The main incomes
are from the small amount donations from the members of WTMSA. The membership
fees create a minor amount of income.
Its Future ?
They are a hope giving group for the future. They are
still in their development process and they are still refining their building.
But from the path they have followed until now they are giving hopes to
the other NGO's in Western Thrace Turkish Minority and to the Greek majority
NGO's. Recently they participated to the organization of a panel in Xanthi,
for the minority's education and they cooperated with a youth commission
of a leftist party. Although their participation was debated a lot, they
did not misunderstood in their intention to get in touch with the Greek
Majority NGO's.
8. FUTURE ROLE OF CIVIL LIFE IN WESTERN THRACE AND
THE ROLE OF WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY NGO's
8.1. Towards the new roles of the NGO's in Western
Thrace Turkish Minority
It is often seen that there are cases that official diplomacy
fails in many countries conflicts around the world. Then the NGO's are
becoming more and more important on mediating due to their flexibility
and their voluntary nature. But NGO's are not only good mediators but they
are also potent to play significant role in effecting national policies(24)
and some times international global policies, regulations in UN level .(25)
The activities and projects of ,NGO's today include a variety of several
issues of economic, social, cultural, political nature. The NGO's can be
effective especially in specific areas, like drug addiction, disarmament,
peace keeping, human rights, education. (26)
Greece is not willing to start a debate just for Western Thrace Turkish Minority: It perceives the problems as a part of a great problems package. That's why the NGO's has to be more flexible and has to be more creative. NGO's in the area are consisted from group of people who are exposed to problems and those who live the problems usually can come up with better solutions. It must not be forgotten that solutions created without the consultation of the related parties are not accepted or in case accepted are not applicable
There are a lot of examples on this argument a good example is The HABITAT I World Human Settlements Summit in 1977 in Vancouver where government decided without consulting the societies. The decisions were not implied and there was little impact on the world on the issues in concern. Aware of the case the UN decided to involve NGO's and INGO's in the decisions and composing their National Plan of Actions for HABITAT II Human Settlements in Istanbul June 1996 (27)
From that point of view the Western Thrace Turkish Minority NGO's has to realize that they have to take more initiative in voicing the problems but with solutions of alternatives in local, national and international level.
8.1.1. Role in society
The NGO's has to develop already existing values in the
society, by using the accumulated experiences of the past board members
and the energy of the new generation the youth.
They have to cultivate ideas of peacefully co-existing in the area with the Greek. This has to be also with cooperating with local and national Greek NGO's willing to communicate with them. It has to be understood that this kind of cooperation doesn't guide the society to assimilation but from the other hand it helps to the exchange of information and better understanding of the society.
They has also to support non-NGO Grassroots organization activities in neighbors and in the around villages, to give chance of socializing to the non educated society by this movements and activities.
8.1.2. Roles in the general Greek society
There are many challenging roles that the local NGO's
can take in the communication stream with the Greek majority society. They
can become centers for bi-directional informal information flows for any
issue any point of view of both minority society thoughts and majority
society thoughts. This is especially important to contribute to the understanding
of both parties in the area. They have to help the Greek public opinion
to understand that the minority is not an ill tissue or a foreign virus
in the body of the Greek society, as it is seen temporarily.
Also NGO's in Western Thrace Turkish Minority can promote the idea of informing the majority about minority issues by participating to public speeches and by participating to open discussions on their issues or by organizing these kind of activities where it may be necessary.
Also they may help the majority to understand the minority by participating to national level or local level festivals at another cities. This will reduce drastically the negative propaganda that is carried out by fascist oriented other majority NGO's.(28) It will be a good way to show that the minority is not as it is described by those NGO's.
They may also initiate joint projects with Greek majority NGO's to contribute to development of peaceful co-existing. These joint projects may be on cultural areas or on issues related environment, art, and common political issues.
Another challenging role could be trying to develop alternative solutions options to alternative problems in the extend the minority can develop by itself. Also promoting debates on the issues can become important tool of democratizing more and more the society and to serve as a tool for more civil society. Western Thrace Turkish Minority NGO's can play also important roles on introducing new technologies in the area of economic activities, for the traders and shopowners and local enterpreneurs.They can introduceagricultural technologies to the farmers as in many examples in Latin America. to enhance economic developments. (29)
8.1.3. Roles in international platforms
There are exciting roles that Western Thrace Turkish
Minority NGO's can take over in the international arena and forums. They
can represent the Western Thrace Turkish Minority society via cultural
activities like folklore, music, poetry, painting and other arts.
They can become multipliers for dispatching international ideas gained from international forums and debate arenas for promoting sustainable development and peace. On the other hand they can become centers where the idea of world citizenship can be promoted.
They can follow UN oriented activities and INGO activities. They may become parts of NGO networks according to different topics of interests. They may take initiative for common joint activities among Turks, Greeks and other countries.
All the ideas mentioned till now can be done via two ways. One is to strengthen the already existing NGO's and the second is by creating new NGO's in areas of interest.
8.2. Strengthening the already existing NGO's
Strengthening the already existing NGO's can be developed
via developing management-training programs for the administration boards
of the already existing NGO's.
Activities to increase the awareness of the board members on the topics of, "NGO's role, potential within the society", "Theirs possible contribution to development".
Then on to study to develop the structures of the NGO's. Developing better organization schemes and by institutionalizing some functions of the NGO's, and professionalize some services given from them to the society.
8.3. The need for new foundation
The already existing NGO's are not sufficient for some
special groups of interest. One of the groups that has been formed is the
people who are writing on different newspapers and at different magazines
in Western Thrace. They for example can form an NGO for themselves. Or
for examples the artists on different arts may come together and form some
other NGO's. Music oriented people may come together to form an NGO to
develop the musical tradition on the area. Or sports people may come together
and they may form other NGO's to coordinate sports activities.
8.4. The difficult decision: assimilation or integration
It has been mentioned above under the title "Ghetto or
assimilation? What about integration?" that the society is a kind
of Ghetto living close to itself. The ideas and proposal just above rises
a debate, which has to debated, first within the minority. "Crowding Ghetto
rising negative feelings and being perceived as problem in Western Thrace
by Greeks or an integrated society of 1st class citizens without being
assimilated".
8.4.1. Self-questioning?
Western Thrace Turkish Minority society has to ask this
first of all to itself. This is a difficult task. Because the NGO that
will begin that debate has to be a reliable one, has to explain many times
the contents of these ideas to the society.
Do we want really integration? But what is integration
really. Integration has to be defined very well to eliminate a misunderstanding
and misperception of the word and mixing it with assimilation.
8.4.2. Asking the same question to the Greek society
Greeks also has to be asked about if they would like
Western Thrace Turkish Minority integrated in the society. They also has
to be informed about the positions of the minority. The basic requirements,
the basic wants, and needs. Then they have to be informed in the correct
way by the Greek NGO's to help the society to erase the negative feelings
that was provoked by fascist propaganda. For all these the Western Thrace
Turkish Minority NGO's can cooperate with Greek local NGO's.
8.5. The need for information exchange with other NGO's
It has been emphasized just above about the need for
cooperation between the different level of NGO's; both local and national
in Greece. There is a need for cooperation with the National NGO's in Turkey
to be able to exchange information, knowledge and experience with them
in cultural, lingual, educational levels as the society has tight bounds
with Turkey.
There is also a need for cooperation with INGO's in Greece to be able to see and understand international issues from the Greek States point of view and to feel as Greek citizens in the international arena.
But from the another hand there is a strong need to be in touch with INGO's in Turkey to follow up international issues from the Turkish point of view as the minority society is Turkish in ethnic origin and Muslim in religion in the manner the Turks are.
Greece and Western Thrace is a part of Balkan's. From that aspect Western Thrace Turkish Minority NGO's has to be in contact with at least some INGO's in the Balkan's. This is much more from the point of view of sharing experience of the past as the Balkans and generally the Eastern Europe are countries that they have been for years under communist regime. It is not the purpose of this paper but, there is always positive or negative experience that can be shared from the Balkan's also.
Greece and Western Thrace is also part of EU. There are many points that the governments and the official channels are not flexible and quickly responsive on European issues. Europe is the present and the future of the Greeks and of Western Thrace Turkish Minority members. From that point of view the Western Thrace Turkish Minority NGO's has to be in life contact and organic relations with European INGO's in European Union
9. CONCLUSION
There is a need for a more civil society in Western Thrace
Turkish Minority as the NGO's are taking more and more responsibilities
in the international arena., as the countries are not much flexible and
are tight with international and national laws, rules of diplomacy. As
the formal relations restrict seriously the communication via official
means.
Although the society is stressed in the region with the different types of oppressions it has exposed to and the local NGO's are experiencing the oppressions in the first line, society has to become more civilized. NGO's should take more roles on this efforts.
There is a need for better-organized society to be 1st level of citizen in Greece. This is partially a story of will and this will has to lie in the mentality and feelings of those willing.
There is surely a need for better understanding between Turks and Greeks, as we are living in the same geographic area. As we have many common things in our culture in our history. Both nations have been living together for ages. Today Thrace has become the only chance for both cultures to coexist in the same geographic area. This is a great chance that can be used as a strong tool to rebuilt friendship from the same area.
The need for better understanding between Turkey and Greece
can be achieved by cooperation between Greek and Turkish NGO's and NGO's
of Western Thrace Turkish Minority can be good intermediaries of communication.
This is a great challenge for the young generations especially.
10. RECOMMENDED TOPICS FOR RESEARCH ON THE AREA
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