Turkish Forum

Category: Regions

  • 1st International Conference of Karamanlidika Studies,University of Cyprus,11-13.09.08

    1st International Conference of Karamanlidika Studies,University of Cyprus,11-13.09.08

    From: Ioannis Grigoriadis
    List Editor: Mark Stein
    Editor’s Subject: H-TURK: 1st International Conference of Karamanlidika Studies,University of Cyprus,11-13.09.08 [I Grigoriadis]
    Author’s Subject: H-TURK: 1st International Conference of Karamanlidika Studies,University of Cyprus,11-13.09.08 [I Grigoriadis]
    Date Written: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:33:02 -0400
    Date Posted: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:33:02 -0400

    The 1st International Conference of Karamanlidika Studies will be held
    from 11 to 13 September 2008 at the “Axiothea” Cultural Centre of the
    University of Cyprus. It is organised by the Department of Turkish and
    Middle Eastern Studies/University of Cyprus (Nicosia) and the National
    Hellenic Research Foundation (Athens). The Conference brings together
    scholars from Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Belgium, France, Italy, and Norway
    with the aim to explore the always plural and complex stories of the
    Turkish-speaking Orthodox Christian population and its cultural product,
    the Karamanlidika printed matter.

    Karamanlidhes are the Turkish-speaking Orthodox Christian
    inhabitants of Anatolia, in a geographical area, which is defined today
    as “Cappadocia”, promoted by art history, in the region of the
    troglodytic ecclesiastical and monastic communities of the Byzantine
    Empire. From the mid-nineteenth century until to the Exchange of
    Populations, the term “Cappadocia” was applied to the region that
    reached as far as Yosgat in the north, Karaman in the south, just beyond
    Kayseri in the east and no further than Isparta in the west.

    In the early eighteenth century the Ecumenical Patriarchate sped to
    protect these Turcophone Orthodox Christians from conversion to Islam,
    and some one hundred years later, from the proselytisation of
    Protestants and other missionaries. The appeal of the propaganda of the
    various Western Churches in these populations caused the leadership of
    the Orthodox Church to worry about its flock in Anatolia, and the
    bourgeoisie of Constantinople to deliberate on the unity and the
    stability of their economic networks in the Asia Minor hinterland.
    Metropolitans and monks, such as Zacharias the Athonite and Seraphim of
    Pisidia translated into Turkish and published in Greek characters, that
    is in Karamanlidika, Catechisms, Psalms and other religious texts, with
    the aim of teaching the doctrine of the Orthodox Church and the
    religious duties of an Orthodox Christian to the Christians of Asia
    Minor, “since they have forgotten their Greek language, cannot
    understand what is read in Church and thus are led far from the way of
    God.”

    >From the mid-nineteenth century, expatriate Karamanlis played a
    decisive role in the publication of Karamanli books and, of course, in
    the turn towards the secularization of Karamanli printed works. The
    expatriates bore the expenses, organized and participated in
    disseminating and distributing the books in the interior of Anatolia,
    with subscriptions, because they had a network of mutual support and
    their own active rules of communication. Some clerics, but mainly laymen
    – teachers, doctors, journalists – who had studied in Athens, Izmir and
    Western Europe, supported economically and assumed responsibility for
    processing the material, that is translating works from Greek, but
    mainly from Western languages, or transcribing works from Ottoman script
    into Greek characters. Cappadocians residing in Constantinople and
    others living in their native Anatolia participated in Karamanli book
    production. They translated French novels, vade-mecums on medicine and
    agriculture, manuals on epistolography, legal codes and interpretations
    of laws, calendars and almanacs, as well as composing works on local
    history. The Karamanli book served the needs of the Turcophone Orthodox
    Christian society in the face of the challenges of Tanzimat. Committed
    clergymen in the patriarchal milieu and militant laymen undertook the
    campaign to enlighten the Orthodox Christians of Anatolia. This was
    mainly the circle of Evangelinos Misailidis, publisher of “Anatoli”, the
    Karamanli newspaper with the greatest longevity.

    A document of Ottoman sovereignty, the Karamanli script transmits
    elements of the Ottoman world and of Orthodoxy during the first, the
    pre-national stage of long duration, under the aegis of the Patriarchal
    printing press initially, and with the activity of misorganizations
    subsequently. From the mid-nineteenth century onwards, it
    functioned as a vehicle for transporting cultural goods produced in
    Europe, or, more rarely, it built bridges between the Ottoman world and
    Greek education.

    For more information, please contact the organisers of the conference:

    Matthias Kappler, University of Cyprus / Nicosia (mkappler@ucy.ac.cy)
    and

    Evangelia Balta, National Hellenic Research Foundation / Athens
    (evabalta@eie.gr)

    CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

    Thursday, 11th September 2008

    20.00 Opening Ceremony

    Welcome addresses:

    Anastasia Nikolopoulou (Dean School of Humanities)

    Martin Strohmeier (Chairman Department of Turkish and Middle Eastern
    Studies)

    Evangelia Balta

    Introductory speech

    Thomas Korovinis & Ensemble, Salonika

    Greek and Turkish Songs from Cappadocia

    A reception will follow

    Friday, 12th September 2008

    Chairperson: Evangelia Balta

    10.00 Aspects of History

    Christos Hadziiossif, University of Crete & Institute for Mediterranean
    Studies / Rethymno

    The Ambivalence of Turkish in a Greek-speaking community of Central
    Anatolia

    Irini Renieri, Institute for Mediterranean Studies / Rethymno

    ‘Xenophone Nevşehirlis… Greek-souled Neapolitans’: the persistent yet
    hesitant dissemination of the Greek language in the Turcophone
    environment of Nevşehir

    Anna Ballian, Benaki Museum of Islamic Art / Athens

    Villages, churches and silver liturgical vessels: the case of Karamanlı
    patronage in the 18th-19th c.

    11.30 Coffee Break

    Chairperson: Martin Strohmeier

    12.00 Aspects of History

    Sia Anagnostopoulou, Panteion University / Athens

    Greek perceptions of the Turkish-speaking Cappadocians: the Greek
    diplomatic sources

    Stefo & Foti Benlisoy, Istanbul Technical University & Boğaziçi
    University / Istanbul

    Reading the identity of Karamanlides through the pages of Anatoli

    Şehnaz Şişmanoğlu, Sabancı University/ Istanbul

    The Anatoli newspaper: the heyday of the Karamanlı press

    Michalis Michail, University of Cyprus / Nicosia

    >From Cilicia to Cyprus: Turcophone Orthodox pilgrims during the Ottoman
    period

    14.00 Lunch

    Friday, 12th September 2008

    Chairperson: Christos Hadziiossif

    16.00 Sources

    Giampiero Bellingeri, University Ca’ Foscari / Venice

    Venetian sources and significations of ‘Caramania’

    Ioannis Theocharidis, University of Cyprus / Nicosia

    Unexploited sources on Serafeim Pissidios

    Stavros Anestidis, Centre for Asia Minor Studies / Athens

    The Centre for Asia Minor Studies and books printed in Karamanlı. A
    contribution to the compilation and the bibliography of a significant
    literature

    Saturday, 13th September

    Chairperson: Giampiero Bellingeri

    09.00 Literature

    Johann Strauss, University Marc Bloch / Strasbourg

    Karamanlı literature – part of a ‘Christian Turkish literature’?

    Anthi Karra, Brussels

    >From Polypathis to Temaşa-i Dünya, from the safe port of translation to
    the open sea of creation….

    Julia Chatzipanagioti-Sangmeister & Matthias Kappler, University of
    Cyprus / Nicosia

    Thoughts on the Turkish verses in Phanariote anthologies (1750-1821)

    M. Sabri Koz, Yapı ve Kredi Yayınları / Istanbul

    Türk Halk Hikâyelerinin Karamanlıca Baskıları Üzerine
    Karşılaştırmalı
    Bibliyografik Notlar / Comparing bibliographical notes on Karamanlı
    prints of Turkish folk tales

    11.00 Coffee Break

    Chairperson: Matthias Kappler

    11.30 Linguistic Topics

    Eftychios Gavriel, University of Cyprus / Nicosia

    Τranscription Problems of Karamanlidika texts

    Bernt Brendemoen, University of Oslo

    An 18th century Karamanlidic codex from Soumela Monastery in Trabzon

    Ceyda Arslan Kechriotis, Boğaziçi University / Istanbul

    Some syntactic issues in Karamanlidika texts

    Xavier Luffin, Université Libre / Brussels

    Religious vocabulary in Karamanlidika 13.30 Concluding Discussion –
    Prospects

  • DALOGLU: Turkey’s regional influence

    DALOGLU: Turkey’s regional influence

    Perhaps too much to handle

    Tulin Daloglu
    Tuesday, August 12, 2008

     
    OP-ED:
     
    Nearly two weeks after Iran refused to yield to the demand by Germany, France, Britain, Russia, China and the United States that it stop developing nuclear technology that can lead to a nuclear weapon, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will travel to a NATO country for the first time. Turkish President Abdullah Gul will meet the Iranian leader on Thursday in Istanbul. While Iran’s influence as a regional power has undeniably been enhanced by standing against the threats of new sanctions and continuing its nuclear program, Mr. Ahmadinejad’s visit to Turkey will further that image.
     
    But what will Turks gain from it? At best, nothing. Furthermore, this visit is likely to cause trouble for Turkey.
     
    Technically, the U.N. Security Council’s five permanent members and Germany unanimously agree that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. They differ in their tactics, but they agree that it is absolutely vital that Iran sees no positive side to trying to further its nuclear aims. Turkey’s political leaders, however, have chosen to see these high-level “talks” as a show of “good will” in the name of peace. Mr. Gul has also hosted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who ordered genocide in Darfur, for the same reason. But a Turkish proverb suggests that talking is not always a virtue. Knowing when and how to stay “silent” is.
     
    It’s one thing for Turkey to nurture relationships with its neighbors. No one, be they friend or foe of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) or any other Turkish political party, would deny that, at minimum, a civil relationship with other countries in the region can only be good for Turkey. But this current situation with Iran and the threat of it obtaining nuclear weapons is serious. And Turkey’s leaders, simply, may well be in over their heads.
     
    Curiously, though, AKP is strongly supported by the Bush administration. The U.S. certainly did not remain silent about a Constitutional Court case that decided the future of the AKP. Now that the court has decided not to shutter the AKP, the Bush administration has complimented the strength of Turkish democracy. In fact, there is speculation in Turkey that the AKP must have been in contact with Washington about Mr. Ahmadinejad’s visit – though no evidence of such a communication exists. Turkey seems to be acting completely independent. While the White House is likely unhappy about the visit, U.S. officials continue to praise AKP leadership for its pro-active engagement with its neighbors.
     
    In another scenario, it’s also possible that Turkey could sign a natural gas deal with Iran, violating America’s Iran Sanctions Act. If that happens, one can only wonder how Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would react. Alas, she has been an exceptionally strong defender of AKP policies. Yet if Turkey signs that energy deal with Iran, the U.S. could end the November 2007 agreement that opened a new chapter of cooperation and intelligence sharing in the fight against PKK terrorism.
     
    Furthermore, Mr. Gul often boasts that Turkey and Iran have not fought a war since the early 17th century. The facts of the Turkish history, however, suggest differently, like Turkey’s invasion of Tabriz during World War I. Yet Mr. Ahmadinejad has made it clear that unlike every other visiting dignitary, he will not visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s founder, who created a secular republic in a Muslim nation. So Mr. Gul capitulated and instead invited him to Istanbul. So while these two leaders represent different forms of governments, they in fact seem to have much in common.
     
    Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan says that Turkey cannot stay silent on matters related to Iran, especially when fighting could be possible. Turkey refused to be used as a way into Iraq for the United States, and it certainly won’t be used to attack Iran either, Mr. Babacan says. However, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be indicating a different circumstance. Mr. Erdogan admitted during a visit to Washington that he wished Turkey had cooperated with the U.S., because it would have made it easier for Turkey to defend its national security interests.Also, he blamed the opposition Republican People’s Party, CHP, for defeating the measure that proposed cooperation with the United States.
     
    Surely, politicians tend to gravitate toward populist demagogy. We cannot know whether Mr. Erdogan really meant that Turkey should have cooperated on the invasion of Iraq. It is unclear whether he really opposes Iran having nuclear weapons. Those same leaders who argue against the West pressuring Iran say that it’s no different than Israel or Pakistan having nuclear weapons.
     
    Turkey is blundering its way in this complicated relationship, unsure which side it wants to take or how big a threat it sees Iran to be. Turkey’s political leadership believes they can dance with Iran and simultaneously become a major regional player. Let’s hope they’re right. Otherwise, the Turkish people will be merely a casualty of a reckless policy.
     
    Tulin Daloglu is a free-lance writer.
  • Renewed violence in west China

    Renewed violence in west China

     
      

    Three security staff have been stabbed to death in China’s Xinjiang region, the third attack there in eight days.

    Assailants killed the men at a checkpoint near the city of Kashgar, Chinese state media said.

    Sixteen police officers were killed in an attack in Kashgar earlier this month, but state media said there was no evidence linking the two attacks.

    Xinjiang is home to many Muslim Uighurs, some of whom want independence in the region they call East Turkestan.

    There has been a rise in violent incidents in Xinjiang in recent months, which China has blamed on separatists seeking to disrupt the Olympic Games.

    Suspected Muslim separatists also launched a series of bomb attacks in Kuqa, in southern Xinjiang, on Sunday, which left 11 dead.

    Arrest report

    Tuesday’s attack happened at a checkpoint about 30 km (18 miles) from the border city of Kashgar.

    Attackers – it is not clear how many – jumped out of a passing vehicle and stabbed the men to death. Three men died and a fourth was injured, Xinhua news agency said.

    News of the attack emerged hours after Chinese state media announced that the situation in Kuqa, scene of Sunday’s attacks, had returned to normal.

    Q&A: China and the Uighurs

    Early on Sunday, a string of explosions took place in supermarkets, hotels and government buildings across the city.

    One security guard died, two attackers blew themselves up and eight were shot by police, Xinhua said.

    A Uighur activist has accused Chinese authorities of arresting dozens of people in the wake of the blasts.

    Dilxat Raxit, of the pro-independence World Uighur Congress, said more than 90 people had been arrested in Kuqa, as well as others in nearby counties.

    Local people had heard the sound of detainees being beaten and tortured, he said in a statement.

    He urged the international community to put pressure on China to end “inhumane crimes against ethnic Uighurs”.

    But the Kuqa local government said that Mr Raxit’s allegations were untrue.

    Xinjiang is home to more than eight million Uighurs.

    China says it is bringing development and prosperity to the region, but activists accuse Beijing of suppressing traditional Uighur culture and religion.
  • CFP- Armenia and Armenians in International Treaties, U of Mich, Mar 18-21, ’09

    CFP- Armenia and Armenians in International Treaties, U of Mich, Mar 18-21, ’09

    Posted by: Gloria Caudill <gcaudill@umich.edu>

    Armenian Studies Program
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    Call For Papers
    International Conference on Armenia and Armenians in International Treaties

    The Armenian Studies Program (ASP) at the University of Michigan, Ann
    Arbor    , will be convening an international conference on the theme
    Armenia and Armenians in International Treaties. The conference will
    be held on the campus of the University of Michigan, March 18-21, 2009.

    International treaties represent critical moments in the history of
    Armenia     and of the Armenian people that had serious implications for
    their status and future as well as that of neighboring peoples and
    countries. International treaties also constitute the linchpin of
    diplomatic history, an aspect of Armenian history that has been
    neglected. The purpose of the conference is to determine patterns and
    processes which might shed light on the challenges faced by Armenia
    and Armenians in their long history.

    For the purposes of this conference the term treaties will include
    also international agreements such as the one between the Armenian
    merchants of India and the British East India Company in 1688 or the
    May 1896 agreement regarding the Eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

    Scholars interested in the subject of Armenian diplomatic history from
    earliest times to the present are invited to submit abstracts for
    their proposed papers on the theme to Ms. Gloria Caudill, ASP
    Administrator, (gcaudill@umich.edu) by Friday, October 3, 2008. ASP
    will notify scholars regarding the acceptance of their proposal by the
    end of October, 2008. Final papers should be submitted two weeks
    before the conference, by February 18, 2009. The papers will be made
    available to all participants in order to limit presentations during
    the conference to 20 minutes per participant and provide time for
    discussion during panels.

    The conference will begin with a reception on the evening of
    Wednesday, March 18, followed by three full days of panels. The
    conference will be webcast live internationally. Professor Gerard
    Libaridian is the main convener of the conference.

    The language of the conference will be English, although presentations
    in Armenian as well as in French, Russian and Spanish will be accepted
    as long as the presenter can provide an English translation of the
    paper two weeks before the conference

    ASP will cover all expenses related to travel, lodging and meals for
    participants.

    For further information, please contact Ms. Gloria Caudill at the ASP office:
    Email: gcaudill@umich.edu
    Telephone: (1) 734-763-0622.

  • Timeline by 12th of August From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

    Timeline by 12th of August From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

    12 August

    10:15 Russian planes bombed Gori. The territory around administration building and city market have been bombed.

    In the morning ours of 12 August Russian airplanes bombed the village of Tkviavi near Tskhinvali once again.

    03:25 Russian envoy to the UN Churkin announced on the press conference that Russia will not support the resolution. Georgian envoy Alasania announced that suggested resolution is acceptable to Georgia.

    02:15 Emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN started. The resolution about cease-fire prepared by France was discussed. (more…)

  • Bush Warns Russia to Reverse Course in Georgia

    Bush Warns Russia to Reverse Course in Georgia

    US President George W. Bush made a statement about the situation in Georgia. Bush is demanding Russia withdraw from Georgia saying that such Russia’s actions are unacceptable in 21st century.

    “Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people, ” said Bush.

    “Russia’s actions this week have raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region. These actions have substantially damaged Russia’s standing in the world. And these actions jeopardize Russians’ relations — Russia’s relations with the United States and Europe. It is time for Russia to be true to its word and to act to end this crisis,” said US President.

    He said he was “deeply conerned” that Russian troops had moved beyond the zone of conflict.

    “There’s evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city,” he said. “If these reports are accurate, these Russian actions would represent a dramatic and brutal escalation of the conflict in Georgia. And these actions would be inconsistent with assurances we have received from Russia that its objectives were limited to restoring the status quo in South Ossetia that existed before fighting began on August the 6th,”

    He calls upon Russia to reverse the course and respect Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also told Russia to accept the peace agreement.

    “Russia’s government must respect Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Russian government must reverse the course it appears to be on, and accept this peace agreement as a first step toward resolving this conflict,” he said.