Attention to those looking for 'Fifth Column' activities!..

Those who oppose the government have been branded as "terrorists." Warning against the influx of asylum seekers and foreign students has been considered a provocation.

Most recently, those criticizing trade with Israel—including New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) Chairman Fatih Erbakan—were accused of conducting "fifth column activities." So much so that following the protest in Taksim where protesters wearing headscarves were handcuffed behind their backs, not only government-aligned writers but even the Governor of Istanbul joined the "fifth column" caravan with remarks about "various centers of evil, marginal groups."

WHAT IF I CELEBRATED THE ANNIVERSARY OF EOKA'S FOUNDING

Based on this, it is high time to recall the full-fledged fifth column activities that have been carried out in our country for years by the US, Greece, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Actually, we bring this up at every opportunity; but since neither the government nor the opposition pays any attention—perhaps in the hope of drawing attention—let us try to explain it in a different way this time.

Imagine; although I belong to a minority community, I am a citizen of the Republic of Turkey. I am an official at the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which is affiliated with the Fatih District Governorate and thus the Istanbul Governorship, and whose activities are determined by the Treaty of Lausanne, and I am sent to the US on behalf of this institution.

But suppose, for 5 years here, I have been carrying out anti-Turkey activities at every opportunity, such as embracing the slander of the Pontic genocide, claiming that the Turkish soldier is an occupier in Cyprus, organizing anti-Turkey campaigns over the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, and conducting lobbying efforts before the US administration to have the Patriarchate's "ecumenical" status recognized and the Halki Seminary reopened, despite it being contrary to Lausanne...

As for the Republic of Turkey—let alone taking any action against me—it does not even cross its mind to revoke my citizenship. Naturally, wouldn't one get emboldened? Here are the latest examples:

This past March 25, while we were preoccupied with elections, was the 103rd anniversary of Greece's independence—which it obtained after committing a massacre of Turks in Morea—and April 1 was the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Greek EOKA, which massacred our kinsmen in Cyprus.

The anniversary of EOKA's founding was celebrated not only in the Greek Cypriot side but also in Greece and the US. While members of ELAM, an offshoot of EOKA, attended the celebrations in the Greek Cypriot side in uniform, the government's newspaper Yeni Şafak ran the headline, "EOKA is being resurrected under the wings of the EU under UN supervision."

Our government has become friends with Greece again, hasn't it; the country's Defense Minister Nikos Dendias also shared this message for EOKA:

"Sixty-nine years ago, on April 1, 1955, the armed liberation struggle of the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) began under the leadership of the then President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios. Greece bows with respect, awe, and sorrow before the self-sacrifice and heroism of the young Cypriot fighters who sacrificed their lives for this national liberation struggle... The contributions of the fighters are a source of inspiration and an example of constant commitment to the Cyprus cause... I will repeat the obvious: Cyprus has always been and continues to be an absolute priority for the Greek state, regardless of which government is in power. Once again, I underscore the common struggle and common goal of the alliance between Greece and Cyprus: to reach a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Based on UN resolutions, by applying the EU acquis throughout the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. By eliminating the system of guarantees and third-party intervention 'rights,' which are anachronistic and unacceptable for a sovereign state that is a member of the UN and EU... It is a fact that Cyprus and Greece are the main pillars of stability and security... Permanent cooperation and full coordination between the governments of the two countries in all areas, including defense, is the cornerstone of Greece's position regarding the Cyprus issue... I would like to reiterate once again that Cyprus is not far away."

WHAT IF I SAID "THE TURKISH ARMY IS AN OCCUPIER IN CYPRUS"

Fine, they are Greek, it's normal; but suppose I, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey in the US, did the following:

I attended an event organized for EOKA in a church and considered those terrorists "brave heroes fighting for the independence of Cyprus"... I claimed that Turks were "occupiers" in Cyprus... And I defended a united Cyprus and threatened Turkey as follows:

"We will follow every path leading to a fair and peaceful solution for a united Cyprus; this means the removal of the Turkish occupation army in accordance with international law, respecting the rules-based international order. The slander of those who want to sow seeds of fear and oppression will not deter us."

Of course, I didn't forget to declare those who carried out the Morea uprising in 1821 as "heroes"!..

WHAT IF I CELEBRATED THE MOREA UPRISING

Again, suppose; within the scope of Greece's independence anniversary events, while visiting the State Legislature and Senate of the state I am in and meeting with politicians, I explained that "the heroes of 1821 were inspired by the American revolution"... I condemned Turkey's "occupation" of Cyprus once again and thanked them for the support they gave to the Greek Cypriot side!..

Let us recall a bitter truth right here.

For the first time in the history of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey, last year our Embassy in Athens, the then Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and even Erdoğan celebrated Greece's independence anniversary.

For some reason, they did not celebrate it this year. Whether they forgot or were worried about causing trouble before the elections, it is unknown!..

WHAT IF I INVITED THEM TO THE "CONSTANTINOPLE PATRIARCHATE"

Returning to our assumptions;

Again, on the occasion of Greece's independence anniversary, when I was hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House; I expressed my gratitude to the Biden administration for the "unwavering support they have given on issues of importance to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Greece, and Cyprus." Meanwhile, I conveyed the official invitation made by "Ecumenical Patriarch" Bartholomew to Kamala Harris to visit the "Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople" in Istanbul!..

Then, in the opening speech of the reception organized by President Biden for Greece's national day; I thanked Biden for his "support for the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate," and specifically stated that "there is a need to solve the Cyprus problem." I ended my words with the phrase, "Long live America, long live the Greek people."

WHAT DID BIDEN MEAN?

Let me also convey what Biden said after me.

Emphasizing that the only reason he was at the White House was the Greek community, he noted that he won his first Senate election at the age of 29 thanks to the Greek-American community, saying, "This is not an exaggeration."

Just like during Mitsotakis's White House visit, which led to Erdoğan's reaction two years ago saying, "For me, there is no one named Mitsotakis anymore," he spoke saying, "My nickname is Joe Biden-opoulos." He likened US-Greece relations to "a single soul living in two bodies."

While using the title "Ecumenical" for Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew, he also mentioned an incident like this:

"On more than one occasion, I visited His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is a very great friend and a very great man. Do you remember him having a small problem with being held in another country? We made it clear that if he was not dealt with quickly, we as the US would see it as our problem."

Whether such an incident happened, if it did, when and in which country Bartholomew was held, whom the US threatened for this, and whether these have anything to do with Turkey is unknown; but we know that for 4 years, in violation of Lausanne, Bartholomew has even been invited to the Palace as "ecumenical"!..

To sum up; on March 25, Greece's independence day, Erdoğan was in Tokat, and in the election rally he held there, he was saying, "Tokat is always different... In the War of Independence, Tokat did not give a chance to the Pontic gangs, which were one of the biggest terrorist organizations of the period."

Yes, Tokat did not give a chance to the Pontic gangs 100 years ago; but everything I described above as "suppose" was carried out by Elpidophoros, the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who is still a citizen of the Republic of Turkey.

What I am saying is; if I or someone else said or did one-thousandth of these betrayals, who knows what would have happened to us.

However, as can be seen; when it comes to the US, the Greeks, and their extensions within us, our "locals and nationals" neither see with their eyes nor hear with their ears!..