GREEKS: THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE NOT
(Quotations of interest from the Western Press)
"I am writing this so that others will not make the same mistakes that I have made. Modern Greece is not like old Greece. The Greeks are a wicked and barbaric race who have no gratitude" (as quoted by a Philhellene who went to Greece, during the 1821-1822 Greek rebellion) St. Clair William, That Greece Might Still be Free-the Philhellenes in the War of Independence, London ,1972.
"The Ancient Greeks no longer exist. The place of Solon, Socrates and Demosthenes has been taken by blind ignorance. The logical laws of Athens have been replaced by barbarism..." (as quoted by a Prussian officer, during the 1821-1822 Greek rebellion) Bolmann L de, Remarques Sur L'etat Moral, Politique Et Militaire De La Grece, Marseilles, 1823.
"…Some people hold on to the view that, because the word ‘democracy’ derives from an ancient Greek word, modern Greeks are automatically to be seen as the natural heirs of the political system it refers to. But the Greek Republic was not converted to democracy until fairly recently, and judging by the international problems the country has recently been experiencing, it has still not come to terms with the democratic thinking…." Wim Verjans, The European, 11-17.03.1994.
Greeks and Cyprus
"…Philhellens of Cyprus…pests of the island (Cyprus)…headquarters of this agitation is at Athens and Alexandria, from whence came the funds that kept the Greek Cypriot agitation and the agitators alive…now they want to fill all responsible posts with Greeks, to the exclusion of the English and the Turks…they are already beginning to exercise a wild terror over peaceful fellow citizens…" The Homeward Mail, 03.10.1881.
"…I feel certain that most Irish people do not appreciate the grave wrongs that have been inflicted on the Turkish population of Cyprus and on Turkey itself. Historically and geographically Cyprus belongs to Turkey and it is a tribute to the patience and forbearing of that country that it agreed for the sake of peace to the imposition of Greek rule…The recent riots provoked by (Greek) elements who want to find an excuse for a pogrom against the island’s Turks is a glaring example of the manner in which the real owners of Cyprus are being treated…It is too much to expect that Turkey will remain patient forever, and if peace is to be maintained in the Mediterranean the problem of Turkish Cyprus must be solved." Irish Evening Press, 01.01.1964.
"Turks to be exterminated
…On the Greek Cypriot side the extremists resent President Makarios’ acceptance of British intervention and would have preferred the fighting to continue, leading to the extermination of the Turkish community…" The Times, 04.01.1964.
"…an Englishmen named John Kidney lost his job as head of the TASIS Hellenic International School in Athens, when his work permit was withdrawn by the Greek authorities, because his pupils were allowed to consider the Turkish side of the Cyprus question. Although he had no knowledge of what was happening in the controversial current affairs on Cyprus, he was held technically responsible. Apparently pupils were asked by the history techer to write an essay on the Turkish side of the Cyprus issue, and four Turkish pampleths on Cyprus were lodged in the library. The history teacher concerned was dismissed, while the work permits of two other members of staff were withdrawn. This is clear indication of Greek intolerance and bigotry from which the non-Greek communities , both in Greece and in Cyprus, have been suffering for many years…" Times Educational Supplement, 15.06.1984.
"Hatred in Cyprus, Makarios Enigma
…Archbishop Makarios, robed and bearded cleric who serves as President of Cyprus, has a Byzantine talent for equitation…His government deliberately provoked the clashes and is bent upon the extermination of the Turkish population…" Washington Post, 16.02.1964, article by Robert H. Estabrooh.
"…the fanatic Greeks are gradually approaching to ethnic genocide…" Washington Post, 17.02.1964.
"…If Turkey comes in order to save Turkish Cypriots, Turkey will find no Turkish Cypriots to save…" The statement of Archbishop Makarios, August 1964.
"…In the island, thousands of Turks were held as hostages. Turkish women were raped and Turkish children killed on the streets. The Turkish quarter in Limassol was burnt down. The incidents have been confirmed by Greek Cypriots." The London Times, 22.07.1974.
"…the Greeks killed many women and children in Limassol. I have seen the bodies of 20 children lying on the road…some were wounded and crying…the Greek soldiers are waiting for their turn to enter in the Turkish homes and kill the women…" United Press International (UPI), 23.07.1974.
"…the human mind can not comprehend the Greeks butchery. Greek National Guard…entering the Turkish homes, ruthlessly rained bullets on women and children, they cut the throats of many Turks; rounding up the Turkish women, they…raped them all…" Voice of Germany, 30.07.1974.
"I saw with my own eyes the shameful incidents. The Greeks burned Turkish mosques and set fire to Turkish homes in the villages around Famagusta. Defenceless Turkish villagers, who have no weapons, live in an atmosphere of terror, created by the Greek marauders, and they evacuate their homes and go and live in tents in the forest. The Greeks with their bazookas create total chaos in the Turkish villages. The Greeks’ actions are a shame to humanity. Those Turks who can save their lives run to the nearby hills and are able to do nothing but watch the callous looting of their homes." France Soir, 24.07.1974.
"…In the Turkish village of Aleminio, the Turks were collected in front of a wall and the Greek national army shot them all and killed them indiscriminately…" NBC, National Broadcasting Corporation, 29.07.1974, reported by John Palmer.
"…what happened in Cyprus during the coup d’etat, can not be named…it can only be called as ‘dirty’ and ‘inhuman’…" The Sun, 03.09.1974.
The Greeks were also massacring their own people as well. Mrs Rina Catselli, wife of a Greek Cypriot M.P., in her memoirs on coup d’etat in Cyprus on 15 July 1974, recalls:
"At the Castle of Kyrinia, I saw the Greeks massacring their Greek brothers under the Greek flag…They were not hesitating to crush any one who were not supporting them…Order was given to a Greek soldier with a machine gun to shoot at the Kyrinia Metropolit. He was killed by another Greek when he did not obey the order…two children were killed by the Greek soldiers. The father asked for the bodies. They killed the father as well and buried all in the mass graves…In the Nicosia general hospital, the soldiers from Greece did not allow the doctors to treat the wounded people who supported Makarios…If these people from Greece are Hellenes, we should stop calling ourselves Hellenes…mass arrest of those not supporting them started. The roads of Kyrinia were full of armed persons sent by the Greek junta…I have never thought that one day I will be arrested by brother Greeks and put in the Kyrinia Castle. I pray for justice and freedom to come back…" Catselli Rina, Refugee in my Homeland, 1979.
"…We should not be ready even to discuss the system of rotational Presidency within a federal system…Because, we ther Greeks, can not tolerate even one day to a Turkish President…" O. Baraderides, Agon (Greek Cypriot daily), 29.09.1991.
"…Papandreu [Greek politician], with this kind of behaviour, looks like an acrobat without an umbrella on the rope, using his arms to establish the balance…Papandreu deliversmany meaningless speeshs with this method which invites reaction. However, to respond Papandreu with the same method, will cause more shouting from him…" Los Angeles Times, 19.03.1985.
"We have been informed that you are making a great mistake at the expense of Greek Cypriots e.g. there is a Greek-owned car which goes to Dhekelia yet you prefer to travel there by a Turkish-owned car.
You are not ashamed either of God or of man and you accept exploitation by the Turks? Pity…you are called Greeks. Don’t you know that you violate your religion and betray your fatherland by cooperating with Turks?
I ORDER YOU TO STOP IMMEDIATELY GOING OUT WITH THEM. Otherwise EOKA, the punisher,will fall on your head and we shall stain our hands with the blood of traitors and make a lesson of you.
When water and fire become intimate friends and when hell and paradise unite, then and only then shall we be the sincere friends of the Turks.
You must remember therefore that within three hours from the recipt of my letter you must stop cooperating with the Turks otherwise I will order your immediate execution.
EOKA
Dhigenis, The Leader
14.05.1956"
[A letter sent to a Greek Cypriot citizen by Dhigenis (Grivas) a General from Greece who came to Cyprus to establish the Greek terrorist underground organisation under the name of EOKA for the union (ENOSIS) of Cyprus with Greece.]
"Unless this small Turkish Community – forming a part of the Turkish race which has been the terrible enemy of Hellenism – is expelled from Cyprus, the duty of the heroes of EOKA can never be considered terminated." President Archbishop Makarios addressing to the Greek Cypriots on 04.09.1962.
"In Cyprus the terror continues. Right now we are witnessing the exodus of Turks from villages. Thousands of people are abandoning their homes, lands, herds: Greek terrorism is relentless. This time, the rhetoric of the Hellenes and the busts of Plato do not suffice to cover up their barbaric and ferocious behaviour. At four o’clock in the afternoon curfew is imposed on the Turkish villages. Threats, shootings and attempts of arson start as soon as it becomes dark. After the massacre during the past Christmas that spared neither women, nor children, it is difficult to put up any resistance…" Il Giorno, 14.01.1964, reported by Giorgio Bocco.
"…I have seen in a bathtub the bodies of a mother and of her three young children murdered just because their father was a Turkish officer..." Le Figaro, 25-26.01.1964 reported by Max Closs
"Greek Cypriot police in Larnaca stopped a rented car, carrying four British tourists departing from Pyla (a mixed village in the Buffer Zone where the Greek Cypriot authorities prevent the Greek Cypriots and visiting tourists from buying any item from the Turkish Cypriots), and searched it. It was found out that two of the tourists had bought two golden rings from the Turks in Pyla, which were confiscated. The tourists were fined 20 Cyprus pounds. Filelefteros (Greek Cypriot newspaper), 14.02.1993.
"A Greek woman singer, who had bought 38 pairs of sportswear from Turkish shops in Pyla, was jailed by a Greek Cypriot court for four months; the items were seized.""Alithia (Greek Cypriot newspaper), 09.09.1993.
"Four Greek Cypriots from Limassol were arrested by the Greek Cypriot police on the grounds that they had bought Reebok sports jackets from a sports-wear Turkish shop in Pyla. The jackets were confiscated by the police." Agon (Greek Cypriot newspaper), 13.10.1993.
"…the Secretary-General has made strong criticism against the Greek Cypriots. The Secretary-General has accused a major part of the Greek Cypriot Press and the political leadership as behaving paranoidly and as an example showed the storm created over the contacts between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots." Filelefteros (Greek Cypriot newspaper), 26.11.1993.
"…the Greek Cypriot police stopped a car driven by Nikos Ch. Bibonis and after searching the car found 35 kg. Fresh fish, four game rabbits,…Bibonis told the police that he bought these items from a Turk living in Pyla. He was arrested and the items were confiscated by the Greek Cypriot police…" Agon (Greek Cypriot newspaper), 05.12.1994.
"Unfortunately, accusing those telling the realities in this country, of being defeatist submissive and degrading them has become quite widespread. As soon as some cored and true things are said which disturbs these ‘brainless’ people, accusations start and by using clinched slogans these brainless, who monopolise patriotism, immediately start calling people traitors. Is it sin to express views from time time similar to that of Turks? Is our role always to disagree with the Turks? But if we disagree all the time how are we going to reach an agreement? Even if we reach an agreement how will the state we will establish work with such disagreements." Agon (Greek Cypriot newspaper), 25.11.1993 (from the statement of Mr. Nicos Rolandis, Liberal Party M.P.).
Greek Intolerance on Religion and Ethnicity
"Vandalism of Greeks towards Moslem art is undeniable. I remember once hearing Prince Andrew boast of having paved his quarters at Salonica with Moslem tombstones…" British Foreign Office Document FO 371/7880/E7453, Ispahani of the London Moslem League to Curzon, 25 July 1922.
"Turks to be exterminated
…On the Greek Cypriot side the extremists resent President Makarios’ acceptance of British intervention and would have preferred the fighting to continue, leading to the extermination of the Turkish community…" The Times, 04.01.1964.
"…The Turks of Greece…disappeared suddenly and finally in the spring of 1821…unnoticed by the rest of the world…Upwards of 20,000 Turkish men, women and children were murdered by their Greek neighbours in a few weeks of slaughter. They were killed deliberately, without qualm or scruple, and there were no regrets either then or later. Unarmed Turkish families living in simple farms or small isolated communities were summarily put to death and their homes burned down over their corpses…the orgy of genocide exhausted itself in the Pelopennese only when there were no more Turks to kill…William St. Clair, That Greece Might Still Be Free, London 1972.
"…it is unbelievable that a nation like Greeks who have a very obvious exotic intentions, who are deprived from tolerance and open-minded heads, who are not destined for a national characteristics, are allowed to conquer and rule another nation (Turkey) to whom they have felt enmity for centuries…the Greek soldiers and brigands committing such a bloody barbarism that was not witnessed during recent history. This has to be stopped. They should not be allowed to satisfy their ambitions by killing the native people like sheep and burning every place they conquer. These Greeks are those who have done all types of propaganda with the intention to degrade Turks in the eyes of the Europeans…" Morning Post, London, 26.07.1919.
"…These beautiful towns (Izmir, Manisa, Bergama, etc) are now desolated, these amiable people killed, exiled, ruined or tormated by most appalling mental and physical agonies, and this through the wantonness of the Western statesmen who hardened their hearts and stopped their ears against their expert advisers…After causing hundreds of thousands of fellow human beings to lose everything that makes life worth living, they have themselves lost nothing more irretrievable than office and reputation. It were better indeed for the British Empire that the Greek Army had never set foot in Anatolia…) Arnold J. Toynbee, The Western Question in Greece and Turkey, London, 1923.
" The Imam of Omorphita and his paralysed blind son were found today murdered in their beds in Nicosia. Turks returning to Omorphita suburb under British escort found the 75 year-old priest Huseyin Igneci riddled with machine-gun bullets. The Turkish religious leader had gone to bed after leading prayers in a mosque...""Daily Mail, 03.01.1964, reported by Bernard Jordan from Nicosia.
"To : H.E. The President, H. Sarcetakis
Chairman of NDP, K. Mitsodakis
Chairman of PASOK, A. Papandreu
Chairman of Leftist Union, H. Feorakis
Today (20.11.1989, Monday), after the religious ceremony which took place at the Gumulcine and Maronia churches, the people of Rodop decided to inform you upon the following:
It has been learned that a coalition government will be established with the support of the Moslem M.P. from Rodop. We strongly protest this kind of approach and inform that a cabinet established with the support of a Moslem will constitute an insult to the national honor and credit of our people.
The people of Rodop requests from all politicians to take into consideration the danger of such an approach and protect the sacred values and unity of the people.
Damas Krinos
Metropolit of Gumulcine and Maronia"
[A member of the Turkish/Moslem minority in Greece, the independent Ismail Molla was elected as a Member of Parliament from Rodop of Western Thrace during 5 November 1989 elections. Newspapers reported that PASOK, together with leftist parties, may establish a coalition government with the support of this M.P. of Turkish origin.]
"…During the recent election in Greece…Dr. Sadik Ahmet, a parliamentarian of Gumulcine province of Greece, has been arrested because he has used the term of ‘Turkish minorities’ instead of ‘Moslem minorities’ during his recent election campaign…the 3-member court of Gumulcine has convicted Dr. Sadik Ahmet to 18 months of prisonment and 3 years restriction from political life…" BBC London reporting on 26.01.1990.
"… 19 persons were wounded at incidents which took place between the Greeks and Turks at the Turkish neighborhood of Gumulcine…The incidents took place when a group of citizens wanted to protest a decision of the High Court which prohibits to use the word "Turkish" in titles of organisations. 120,000 Moslems live in Greece who have been living there during the last five centuries. About 1,500 Moslems met in front of a mosque to protest the decision of the High Court when attacked by their Greek neighbours…Reuter reporting on 29.01.1990.
"Greece Accused of Abuses
The London-based International Society for Human Rights has accused Greece of sytematically abusing ethnic and religious minorities. A report set for release today said that Greece has persecuted Macedonian Slavs and followers of religion other than Greek Orthodoxy-including Baptists, Pentecostalist and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Often, members of such minority congregations have been imprisoned without formal charge or trial, it added: ‘It is nothing short of scandalous that the state due to take over the presidency of the European Community in January should be engaged in institutional violations of human rights on this scale’, said a spokeswoman" The Washington Post, 31.12.1993
Greek Aid to International Terrorism
"The chain of events, that led to the bursting of two guerillas into the hall where the Organisation for the Solidarity of Asian-African Nations was holding its meeting in Nicosia, during February 1978, and then led further to the operations of Egyptian commandos at the airfield of Larnaca, has thrown a light on a fact which had hitherto been known to the Intelligence Services. The fact in question is that the island of (Southern) Cyprus has become the capital of the international terrorism. This development is the outcome of a mistaken policy, inaugurated in order to win the sympathy and support of the Progressive Arab Countries, and further expended in the course of the civil war in Lebanon. Thus, Cyprus has developed into a new center of the international terrorism. There, with the connivance and support of sertain Communist and Socialist States, a section of the international terrorist activities is being planned, coordinated and carried out. As to the Greek Cypriot Government, it is giving proofs of such unbelievable liberality and benevolence in the matter that its attitude amounts to little less than aiding and abetting the international terrorists who are using Cyprus as a training ground, a supply center and an operational basis. This pleasant island, once a paradise of tourism, is now the haunt of crime and fear. We make bold to prove this by the evidence of world press publications. We are blaming this and calling on you for your help in the fight against terrorism, that has reached terrible dimensions and threatens peace in the Middle East, and against the states that connive with it. Thousands of innocent souls entreat you to suppress terrorism in your own countries that tolerate or encourage this international evil, and allow it to root in their territory." Announcement of the International Peace Institute (IPI) made during February 1978 after its meeting at the Greek part of Nicosia.
"Terror headquarters in (Southern) Cyprus
Three weeks ago, a luxury villa in Larnaca standing in its own grounds was the scene of a secret meeting between liaison officers from some of the world’s most dangerous international terrorist groups. They included Wadi Hadad’s Revolutionary Popular Front For the Liberation of Palestine (RPFLP), the Japanese Red Army, vestiges of the Baader-Meinhof gang, terrorist cells based in Libya, Algeria and South Yemen and National Front For the Liberation of Turkey. This was an operational meeting. Western intelligence sources offer two theories about what it was designed to achieve. The first is that the groups represented wanted to conduct a joint post-mortem on their recent operations, which have been thwarted by close cooperation between American, West European and Israeli intelligence services. The second theory is that the Cyprus meeting was intended to divert the attention of Western intelligence from another, more important meeting attended by the top terrorist leaders and designed to orchestrate an intensified terrorist campaign aimed at some Arab states as well as Israel and Western countries. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Cyprus get-together was that the local representatives of the groups that attended had coolly informed the local authorities about the visitors and requested that they should be given a special treatment and the freedom to move around the island at will. It seems that the Cypriot Greek government was a willing host. Cyprus appears to have become a primary base for international terrorist organisations involved in the Middle East…" Foreign Report published by the Economist Newspaper Limited.
"…Papandreu government has removed the law which was to fight against terrorism…" Acroplis, Athens, 15.04.1983.
"…Mitsodakis claimed that, the removal of law by the government which takes measures against terrorism is a terrible mistake…This will bring more terrorism to the country…" Vradimi, Athens, 15.04.1983.
"…terrorist activities in our country is increasing…this is threatening the lives of our citizens…Lately our country has become the arena of the international terrorism…" Eleftheros Tipos, Athens, 06.07.1984.
"…The Western diplomats are concerned with the fact that the Greek government has turned Athens to a terrorist heaven. A diplomat said ‘Athens has become a city that is considered by the terrorists as their home’…" Washington Post, 09.07.1984.
"…Some of the intelligence services of the European Union partners, fear that Greece, is not to be trusted with sensitive intelligence on terrorism…" The Independent, 09.11.1994 by Leonard Doyle.
"…the terrorist again caused disorder in the city…" Acroplis, Athens, 06.12.1984.
"Athens as Central Base of Terrorist Organisations
…Athens, after Beirut, has become the base of (Armenian) terror organisation ASALA. The government of Papandreu has gladly accepted this…" Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bonn, 06.03.1985.
"…Western Intelligence Services believe that the terrorist organisations are using Athens as a base to prepare their world wide operations. The Greeks are in favour of this with condition that the terrorists will not use any Greek interest as their targets. For this reason, Western Intelligent Services have brought to the minimum their contact with the Greek counterparts…" The Times, 07.03.1985.
Note: The following Turkish diplomats were assasinated in Greece: 1-Galip Ozman (Admin Attache) and daughter on 31.07.1980, 2-Cetin Gorgu (Press Attache) on 07.10.1991, 3-Haluk Sipahioglu (First Secretary) on 04.07.1994.
"Leftist Greek guerrillas, vowing to strike again, claimed responsibility yesterday for the killing of a senior Turkish diplomat. The November 17 guerrillas sent a four-page statement to the private Sky television station late Monday. It was printed in Greek newspapers yesterday. A three-men November 17 hit squad shot and killed Turkish Consul Omer Haluk Sipahioglu, 46, as he got into his car to drive to work on Monday. They used a 45 semi-automatic pistol that has been used in a string of killings, including that of American Richard Welch, the CIA station chief, in 1975." Washington Post, 06.07.1994.
"Question by the Press: Sometime before the assasination of Mr. Sipahioglu, some of the (Greek) newspapers published information which showed the Turkish diplomats as a target. Is the government considering this fact.
Venizelos (Greek Governbment Speaker): One special newspaper published the names and addresses of the Turkish diplomats. This is a fact. The General Directorate of Information has taken this matter up and the Ministry of Justice has delivered all relevant publications to the public prosecuter for necessary action. What I want to tell you here is the fact that the Turkish diplomats are fully protected by the Greek police forces!!!???"" Bulletin of the Information General Directorate, 04.07.1994.
"…It is a fact that ther murderers has contact with senior officials. This is how they had full information on the movements of Mr. Sipahioglu…" Elefteros Tipos, 04.07.1994.
"…It is a fact that the murderers received inside information. The name of Mr. Sipahioglu was mentioned in the STOHOS newspaper under ‘The important Turkish targets"…" Apoyevmitini, 04.07.1994.
"…The murderers were following Mr. Sipahioglu for the last 20 days. The assasination was well arranged like the previous ones. It is also possible that this time some Kurdish terrorists are used within the November 17 organisation…" Sky Hellenism, 04.07.1994.
"…Is this a coincidence that the new victim was also unaccompanied by the guards at the time of murder? The terror organisation November 17 is receiving information from inside sources…This is the fourth assassination committed on the Turkish diplomats by the November 17 organisation…" Ta Nea, 05.07.1994.
"…as learned from CIA sources, there is a PKK training camp at a Greek military base in the south of Salonika…photographs of this camp is in the files of CIA…" The Times, 09.04.1995 by James Adams.
"…PKK is one of the most dangerous terrorist organisations…PKK has opened offices in Greece…" 1994 Report on Terror, USA Foreign Office, 28.04.1985.
Greece and the European Union
"A Greek political obsession: Demonstrators in Thessaloniki oppose giving the name of Macedonia to an ex-Yugoslav province… Greek citizens want to prevent Macedonia from becoming a new state under that name. For almost six months, Greece has rebuffed its 11 partners in the European Community, all of which favour recognising the indepenedence of the former Yugoslav province. In recent weeks EC leaders have increasingly expressed irritation with Athen’s stubbornness, and some in private regret that Greece was ever admitted to the Community in the first place…" Newsweek, 01.06.1992.
"The European Community’s frustration with Greece has been flustering for a long time. Now, the rot in the relationship has become too deep to ignore…Mr Karamanlis signed the treaty of accession (in EC) in 1979. Ten years later Mr. Giscard D’Estaign, a keen Hellenophil, confided to friends that letting in Greece had been a mistake…Greek inflexibility on both Turkey and Macedonia maddened ministers from other EC countries…One minister described Greece’s stance on Macedonia as ‘rubbish’…"Europe, 09.05.1992.
"…Greece belongs to Europe. But does it belong to the European Union? One has to doubt it…Is a country which extremely profits from the EU, but still wants to set its own will an agreeable partner?…There is only one single, unfriendly expression to describe it: political blacxkmail…Where will a common foreign policy lead to if it is dominated by Greek neurosia. That is the question the other EU members will have to answer…" Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 14.02.1995.