A Hundred Years of Lausanne Violations: Greece and Turkey, Minorities and the Aegean

Download or read book A Hundred Years of Lausanne Violations: Greece and Turkey, Minorities and the Aegean written by Baskın Oran and published by Transnational Press London. This book was released on 2024-06-01 with total page 371 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore the intricate historical fabric that has woven the complex relationship between Turkey and Greece along the enchanting Aegean Sea. Despite their shared geographic proximity, Greece and Turkey secured their independence in vastly different centuries, with Greece gaining sovereignty in 1830 and Turkey in 1923. Their journeys to nationhood were marred by conflicts, casting a long shadow over their subsequent interactions. Both nations, influenced by the passionate Mediterranean temperament, have engaged in a delicate dance of disputes. Their interactions have often embodied the saying "the pot calling the kettle black," leading to a series of missteps that occasionally teetered on the brink of armed conflicts in the Aegean. In the process, the welfare of their respective minority communities was often overlooked in the name of protecting their compatriots. Turkey and Greece have resorted to the concept of "reciprocity," despite its historical association with a cycle of transgressions. This practice, deemed incompatible with international law (as highlighted in Article 60/5 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties), further complicates their relations. This insightful book consists of two parts. The first dissects the injustices perpetrated by both nations against their minority populations, meticulously examining the relevant articles of the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty and other international texts to expose violations. The second part navigates the turbulent waters of Aegean conflicts, offering impartial insights and arguments, free from national bias. Embark on a journey through a century of history, geopolitics, and international law as we unravel the complexities of Turkey and Greece's quest for understanding, reconciliation, and peace in the Aegean.