Koyun…
Hurşit…
Formoz…
Eşek…
Nergizcik…
Bulamaç…
Kalolimnoz…
Keçi…
Sakarcılar…
Koçbaba…
Ardacık…
Gavdos…
Marathi…
Dhia…
Dionisades…
Gaidhouronisi…
Koufonisi…
Venedik…
***
Do you know what these 18 words are?
They are all islands, lined up like pearls along the coasts of Izmir, Aydin, and Mugla…
Although some prefer to call them “rocks” to downplay their significance, many of them are five times the size of Buyukada in Istanbul…
All of these islands belonged to Turkey until 2004. Nothing could be more natural; because the one furthest from our coast is only a few miles away…
Greece has been insidiously occupying these islands, which were uninhabited at the time, since 2004.
Patiently, one by one, like someone crocheting lace…
They stationed a guard on every island they occupied. They also built a small church on each.
Just think; there is no life there, but there is a chapel for religious worship!
***
The AKP government turned a blind eye to this occupation.
Because in those years, joining the European Union was important…
The EU was openly supporting the AKP’s struggle regarding the headscarf. It wouldn't do to spoil relations with Greece.
And besides, what was there to make a fuss about; they were just a few pieces of “rock” anyway…
As the AKP turned a blind eye, Greece continued the plunder.
After the guards and the chapels, seeing that no one was interfering, they established “military bases” on exactly 14 islands and stationed 6 thousand soldiers there.
The target of these bases was, of course, Turkey…
***
Wait; it’s not over yet; since everything is calm and peaceful… They even opened these islands to settlement!
They encouraged Greek citizens to go and settle on these islands… They put them on a salary of 450 Euros per person.
In other words, a family of four received 1800 Euros for settling on these islands.
That wasn't enough; every settler was given a free plot of land with a title deed.
Scheduled ferry services were launched.
All kinds of needs, such as food, clothing, and sundries, were met by the state.
As a result, the number of Greeks living on these Turkish islands under Greek occupation first reached the hundreds, and now it has exceeded ten thousand.
The number of registered voters alone is 7 thousand.
***
And… on October 8, 2023, they held local elections on Koyun Island, which is attached to Izmir, and on Hurşit, Eşek, and Gavdos islands, which are attached to Aydin…
They elected their mayors and village headmen (muhtars).
The election results were published on the official website of the Greek Ministry of Interior.
***
The AKP government did not see or hear any of this…
Let’s give credit where it’s due; only Umit Yalim, the former Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defense, was concerned about the Greek occupation of these islands…
He struggled for years; but apart from a few courageous journalists in the media, no one paid him any attention.
As if these islands belonged to Umit Yalim’s father, that’s why he was bothering with them.
Whenever he asked for interest and support, even the CHP turned up its nose!
***
There are international documents showing that almost all of these islands, where the Greek flag is hoisted, belong to Turkey.
For example, it has been documented that Marathi Island off the coast of Aydin was registered to the League of Nations in 1933 as a Turkish island, by name.
What good did it do?
***
All of these islands are within the borders of the National Pact (Misak-i Milli)…
You know, the borders of the National Pact for which we gave tens of thousands of martyrs…
But this is of no concern to anyone!
Greece, which suffered a major disappointment and defeat in Kardak in 1996, is taking its revenge this way.
And no one is saying stop!
***
When we write such articles, the government sycophants ask, “Well; didn’t this AKP do anything good at all?”
How could they not?
President Erdogan visited Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis in Athens just yesterday.
In the statement he made after the meeting, the Greek Prime Minister announced the good news that they had reached an agreement for Turkish citizens to travel to 10 Greek islands visa-free for seven days.
This is a turning point for the 100-year-old Republic of Turkey.
It is a great success for the AKP.
And the day this great success was achieved, December 7th, should be celebrated as an official holiday every year from now on!
***
I hope the AKP government will also step in for our 18 islands that it gifted to Greece with its own hands…
May it be the good fortune of the noble Turkish high society to go there visa-free as well!
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