........................................................................................................
Burcu Becermen,
............................................................................................................
Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project Manager “As an NGO aiming at European integration, we strongly believe that youth is very significant as tomorrow’s decision makers. AEGEE feels the necessity of involving youth in activities regarding community and encourage them to contribute them in their countries, regions and the whole world.” “Unfortunately, we are witnessing a very desperate war at the moment. Even under these circumstances, these committed people here indicate how powerful youth initiatives are. AEGEE has a very motivating motto: “Action speaks louder than words”.
.....................................................................................
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Durman,
Katia Antoniadi
AEGEE-Athina, Journalist
“Merhaba, Kalispera and good evening to all!” “In Greece, there is really an intense discussion for years about the Turkish Greek relationships. The truth is that stereotypes exist from Greeks’ side about the Turks, and vice versa.” “The truth is that the history is already written, and no one can change it” “We all know about the chronic conflict between Turkey and Greece and no one has the intention of changing it. History is the foundation of each nation. Relationships between Turkey and Greece could become better, and that is the ambitious target of non-governmental organisations, which focus on this direction with their work and projects, just like this one”
President of Sakarya University “Looking for peaceful solutions under the difficult conditions, such as the unfortunate atmosphere of the deadlock in Cyprus negotiations and the shadow of the war nearby makes this conference even more valuable and something to be recognized and applauded.” “I strongly believe that majority of problems between nations stem from lack of communication. Lack of communication leads to many misunderstandings, prejudice, stereotyping and often to enmity. In contrast, communication leads to peace, democracy, friendship, understanding and mutual respect.” “Although Sakarya University was established only a decade ago, it is now a large University with more than 25000 students and many of them demonstrated through high quality research and teaching, and strong commitment to local and universal values”.
Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de L’Europe
“I want to remind you the common things that ties us up together, the common “baklava”, or the common “bouzouki”, the common “zeimbekiko” or the Turkish coffee we all love. We both say “aman!”, we all eat “dolma” and we all go to “doğru” directions, we both put our clothes in a “dolap”. I will not talk about the common songs, it will take many hours...“ “We are here to make another move and another try to approach the “TurkishGreek dialogue” from another point of view. We are here, not to change what really happened, but to make another start among these seventy or hundred people attending this meeting. “Relationships between Turkey and Greece can become better, and we don’t need to wait for another destructive earthquake to get closer.” “In my village, in Greece, we say that each person counts on his family and on his neighbor, which can be practiced in our case for real.”
Rebuilding Communication
35