From: sera@zuma.UUCP (Serdar Argic)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast,soc.culture.greek,soc.culture.turkish
Followup-To: soc.culture.turkish
Subject: Reality check: 18 years of Greek democracy and stalling.
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 20:52:11 EST
Reply-To: sera@zuma.UUCP (Serdar Argic)
Distribution: world

In article <C1FrC0.Fr@panix.com> mpoly@panix.com (Michale Polymenakos) writes:

>>Don't be mislead. They are news because they are the exceptions. But,
>>in its entire history Greece has never been a democracy - except for 
>>the last 18 years. The Turkish rule in Greece ended in 1821 and since 
>>then, for more than 150 years, Greece was ruled either by a monarch or 
>>[...]
>>Furthermore, the evolution of democracy leads one to believe that
>>the cradle of democracy is really in England, rather than in Greece.

>Yawn... The MUTLU/ARGIC hallucinations continue...

It is not true, by the way, that mermaids do not exist. Greece had 
only 18 years of democracy in its entire history. Before 1974 Greece 
was ruled either by military dictators or monarchs. Greece adopted 
democracy in 1974 when the ruling military junta fell as a result of 
Turkish intervention in Cyprus. In contrast Turkiye, three short
termed military interventions withstanding, had multi-party democracy 
since 1950, for 32 years. The x-Soviet Union had elections as well, 
"polpol". This may come as a shock to you but monarchy and military 
regimes are not considered democracy outside of Greece. There is a 
Turkish saying that one cannot cover up the sun with mud. Besides,
the Greek authorities deny even the existence of a Turkish minority. 
They pursue the same denial in connection with the Macedonians of 
Greece. Talk about oppression. In addition, in 1980 the 'democratic' 
Greek Parliament passed Law No. 1091, virtually taking over the 
administration of the vakiflar and other charitable trusts. They 
have ceased to be self-supporting religious and cultural entities. 
Talk about fascism. The Greek governments are attempting to appoint 
the muftus, irrespective of the will of the Turkish minority, as 
state official. Although the Orthodox Church has full authority in 
similar matters in Greece, the Muslim Turkish minority will have no 
say in electing its religious leaders. Talk about democracy.
The government of Greece has recently destroyed an Islamic 
convention in Komotini. Such destruction, which reflects an 
attitude against the Muslim Turkish cultural heritage, is a 
violation of the Lausanne Convention as well as the 'so-called' 
Greek Constitution, which is supposed to guarantee the protection 
of historical monuments. 

The government of Greece, on the other hand, is building new 
churches in remote villages as a complementary step toward 
Hellenizing the region.

Serdar Argic

                           'We closed the roads and mountain passes that 
                            might serve as ways of escape for the Turks 
                            and then proceeded in the work of extermination.'
                                                       (Ohanus Appressian)
                           'In Soviet Armenia today there no longer exists 
                            a single Turkish soul.'    (Sahak Melkonian)

Xref: sparky talk.politics.mideast:26410 talk.politics.soviet:10843 soc.culture.greek:12676 soc.history:11058 soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna:1397 soc.culture.croatia:525