sign in sign up
<<
Home , Dodecanese

Greece and : Adversity in Alliance

ADELPHI LIBRARY 12

Edited bv JONATHAN ALFORD Deputy Director, USS

Published for THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES by Gower , is rejected by Greek analysts as being attempt to solve the problem of delimitation without basis in international law or state systematically, and as illustrating the difficulties practice. It is interesting, however, as a bold thereby raised.

IV. RELATED QUESTIONS

Militarization of the 'should not be used for the establishment of any The militarization of the East naval base and the construction of fortifications'. took place only after the Turkish landings in It also stipulated that the stationing of military in 1974. Both before this and afterwards forces there 'should be confined to persons there were statements by Turkish leaders that locally recruited for their military service and to a could have justified apprehension on the part of force of gendarmerie proportionate to the total those responsible for Greek defence,4'1 and strength of the Greek security forces'. Since, accusations that Greece was preparing the islands during the preparation of the treaty in 1923, a as the base for offensive action have been made Turkish proposal for complete demilitarization frequently in the Turkish press. Greek offensive was rejected.44 it would seem that some form of preparations were given as the reason for setting local defence for this group has always been up the Turkish Fourth Army ('The Army of the permitted. Aegean') in 1975. Yet it is noteworthy that the The Dodecanese Islands were ordered to be militarization, which Turkey holds to be in disarmed by Article 14 of the Treaty of Paris breach of the treaties of Lausanne and Paris, has (1947). But this provision does not apply to never appeared on the published agenda of members of the internal security forces. Since bilateral talks, nor has it been brought before the 1974 advantage has been taken of this exclusion International Court. to increase the strength of the gendarmerie in the From the standpoint of international treaties, islands to a point at which it is barely distin• the islands can be divided into three groups: guishable from a regular Army force. Greece and came under the argues that Turkey has no legal right to protest demilitarization clause of Article 4, Point 3, of at Greek military measures in the Dodecanese the , which also ordered the since Turkey is not a party to the Treaty of Paris, demilitarization of the Turkish islands of and that, according to a principle of international Lagoussai, (Goekeada) and law, a treaty creates rights and obligations only (Bozcada). In 1936 the Treaty of Lausanne was among signatories (pacta tertiis nee nocent pro- replaced by the Treaty of Montreux, to which sunt). She also contends that the demilitarization both Greece and Turkey are signatories. of the Dodecanese cannot deprive her of her Although Turkey insists that the original natural right to defend the islands if their demilitarization clauses remain legally applicable, security is threatened.45 Greek sources argue that they lapsed with the The military situation presents the commenta• change of treaty and that the abolition was tor with something of a challenge if he is not to explicitly recognized. The Turkish Foreign seem to underplay its importance. On the one Minister at that time is on record as saying: hand the stationing of Greek forces in the islands, '. . . the provisions regarding the island of with the Turkish Fourth Army only a few miles Lemnos and Samothrace, belonging to our away across the water, creates a wasteful and neighbour, friendly Greece, islands which were dangerous military confrontation, the impli• demilitarized according to the Convention of cations of which are discussed in Chapter IV. On Lausanne in 1923, are also abrogated by the the other hand, the legal arguments advanced by Treaty of Montreux'.'3 both sides remain largely academic so long as , , and were also they have not been submitted to the International subjected to militarization restrictions under the Court of Justice, and very little would be Treaty of Lausanne, but with a modified formula. achieved here by attempting to pass judgment Article 13 of the Treaty provided that they on them.

105 In April 1978 the author asked the Turkish Ethnic and religious affiliations may also have Prime Minister, Mr Ecevit, if the demilitari• contributed to the exodus of from zation of the islands and a corresponding re• Turkey. But there have also been harsh political deployment of the Fourth Army could profitably factors behind this exodus. The good relations be made the subject of a joint declaration of which had existed between the communities in intent by both sides as a step to improve the the Ataturk years were marred in 1942, when atmosphere following his recent return to the Turkey imposed a capital tax, aimed nominally premiership. Mr Ecevit answered that such a at those who had made profits from war con• point would be unnecessary since (1) Greece was ditions - the farmers (mainly Muslims) and the committed to disarm the islands by existing merchants (mainly Orthodox Christians, treaties, and (2) progress on other questions, i.e. and Armenians). For a majority of those in the the Cyprus and general Aegean questions, would latter category, assessments were made arbit• lead to the solution of the problem as a matter of rarily by 'special commissions'. Payments were course. required in 15 days, no appeals were allowed, and thousands of defaulters were arrested and Minorities deported or sent to labour camps. Although this Allegations of discrimination against ethnic measure, which had been encouraged by xeno• minorities have played a smaller part in the recent phobic pro-Axis elements in the Turkish press, troubled period of Greek-Turkish relations than was rescinded and remissions made in 1943 4, the larger questions of the Aegan and of Cyprus. the injury to many victims was irreparable. But any general settlement will need to include A second historic factor behind the exodus was the removal not merely of discrimination but also the Istanbul riots of 6 7 September 1955, of any suspicion of discrimination, if the minori• organized by anti-Greek factions under the ties question is not to be material for future Menderes Government in the context of the discord. tripartite talks on Cyprus in London.48 A third The criterion of the minorities' identity is factor was the expulsion in 1965 of virtually all basically religious, and follows from the text of Greek nationals (as distinct from the 'minority') the Treaty of Lausanne and the minutes of the after Turkey denounced the Agreement of Lausanne Conference relating to the exchange of Establishment, Commerce and Navigation which populations. It is therefore technically inaccurate had been signed in Ankara in 1930 as part of the to call them 'national' minorities, though they are Ataturk-Venizelos Pact. This was said to be generally referred to as such. justified by 'new circumstances' in the form of The Greek Orthodox minority remaining in Greek popular support for union of Cyprus with Turkey is largely confined to Istanbul and now Greece. In the same year strict financial and numbers only 10,000 compared with 110,000 in administrative control was imposed on Greek 1934 (the first year for which impartial figures cultural foundations4" exist).46 In contrast, the Muslim minority in The difficulties of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace numbers 130,000, compared western Thrace arise principally from the land with 106,000 in 1934. question. Though forming only about 35 % of the It is felt in Greece that these figures speak for population, the Turks, who live largely by themselves. But Turkey could point out that the agriculture, once held about 60% of the land in increase in the number of Muslims in Thrace is the area. The Greek authorities have reduced the considerably less than would be expected from latter figure to 20%, and this has inevitably pro• the minority's high birth-rate, and that large duced social and economic problems. numbers of Muslims have, in fact, emigrated. Chief among the measures used to achieve this Such emigration (illegally at 120 a month reduction has been the grant of long-term loans according to 1975 figures) is not necessarily or at very low interest rates to Greek families who simply the result of discrimination, however.47 come to settle in the area from other parts of Emigration to Turkey could be a natural outcome Greece. The loans have been used to acquire of ethnic and religious affiliation, or of a belief Turkish land at what, it must be emphasized, are that Turkish cities provide more opportunities quite generous prices. Turkish land has also been than Greek cities for Turkish-speaking Muslims. requisitioned in some areas for defence purposes.

106