LEON BAKRACESKI PRESIDENT OF AEGEE-EUROPE
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ince the signing of the Lausanne Treaty in 1923, Turks and Greeks are working on solving the “ever-lasting” problems. In 1980s, the scope of Turkish-Greek relations was defined by lack of dialogue. Many people in the respective countries, as well as the close neighbourhood, said that this was a powder cage waiting to explode. Was it? Was it possible that the new member state of the European Community - Greece and secular Turkey could generate new crisis area on the tectonic border between the “West” and the “East”? From modern perspective, I feel that we are all very lucky that this question remained as a rhetoric question. Everlasting wowing for peace and dialogue, apparently most of the time remained and still is halted in the back, as politicians were seeking votes for the upcoming elections. Something changed nowadays? I believe so! The Helsinki decision and the Brussels summit in 2004 are opening up new unexplored skylines of communication, values and solutions. Somewhere above the bright horizon, brave and enthusiastic group of AEGEE members, but above all young people with motivation and power joined to offer new platform of dialogue. The “Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue” was a unique meeting place, where the new builders of Europe stand together, discuss, solve and inspire.
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Europe is still not deprived of conflicts, especially in these days when we are expecting the final resolution of the Kosovo question, when Western Balkan is lining up in front of the doors of the “Old Lady”. This project with its methodology and concept of bringing AEGEE members and all young people from other NGOs together can be seen as a role model of interconnectivity, for peace and stability, so longed and preached by our decision-makers. Dear Reader, the book that you are holding in your hands represents canalised emotions and dedication of the project manager and her team. This is a book that speaks about friendships made, connections established and solutions provided, that hardly could have been imagined years ago. Greetings
This book speaks more than about AEGEE itself. As a vital part of this project, I can say that I am proud to be a member of this association and I am proud to have had this project as awakener among Youth in Europe. The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that we do not want to stay where we are, or should I rather say where we were? If we seek prosperity, if we seek liberalisation, if we seek progress and common better future; then we have to tear down walls. Because we decided that we don’t want to be another brick in the wall.
CEM GÜNDOĞAN PRESIDENT OF AEGEE-ANKARA Dear Reader,
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irst, I would like to say that as being the newly elected president of AEGEE-Ankara, it is an honour to me to be among the ones who wrote welcoming words for this result book. When I joined AEGEE, the Final Conference of the Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue project was taking place. I was totally impressed by the idea of the whole project. I met many people who worked for the collaboration of Turkish and Greek non-governmental organisations. There was a smell of big, successful project around there. But, who managed this? Yes, we as Turks had critical times with Greeks throughout history. Sometimes the relations became very fragile. Some people thought that Turks and Greeks are natural born enemies at those times. However, some group of people – the so-called AEGEE people - did not agree with this opinion. They were openminded, addicted to peace, and had no artificial borders in their minds. Those AEGEE people decided to make a meaningful change, which some people call destiny; they wanted to prove that we as two nations are friends. This result book is all about their great effort. Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de L’Europe