Turkish experts say the TTK's project is almost complete, yet problems have emerged between Greece and Turkey regarding the TTK's efforts. Greece strongly opposes the identification of Turkish historical artifacts on its soil. Despite numerous contacts between the foreign ministries of both countries, Greece has refrained from granting permission to TTK staff to count historical artifacts in Greece. In hopes of a resolution, Turkey plans to take the situation to an international platform because of a lack of interest in Turkish artifacts by Greek authorities. Turkish experts complain that most Turkish historical architectural remnants and artifacts are not properly preserved or restored in Greece.
The results of the project, with a number of academics contributing, will be published in a Turkish Cultural and Historical Atlas which will also be posted on the Internet.
22,000 Turkish remnants in the Balkans alone
The inventory will start by identifying remnants in Central Asia. Ancient Chinese sources were reviewed to identify the remnants in this region. Research has shown that no substantial investigation has ever been done so far in this particular region. The research has also revealed that there are 22,000 Turkish historical architectural remnants and artifacts in the Balkans, although only 10 percent of these are still in good condition.
The projected atlas will be both historical and cultural and will illustrate Turkish artifacts and historical remnants in different geographies on the Internet. The TTK has set up different teams to carry out research in different parts of the world.
The final leg of the project will be the inclusion of domestic remnants in the atlas. The project is almost complete, report TTK sources, with only final details left. Domestic remnants are carefully reviewed in different cities. The TTK is working together with the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) to undertake the restoration of Turkish historical architectural remnants and artifacts. TİKA is notified of the identified remnants before restoration, but pays particular attention to the restoration of prestigious remnants.
Turkish remnants in different parts of the world
Crimean Peninsula and Black Sea coastline: The TTK team, headed by Professor Bozkurt Ersoy, is currently working on the identification of remnants on the Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea coastline. The team first began its work at Akkerman and subsequently moved to İnkerman, Balıklıova, Çorgun, Gözleve, Salacak, Eskiyurt and Çutufkale. It has so far identified 70 Turkish remnants, all currently being catalogued.
Bulgaria: Dr. Mehmet İbrahimgil and his team have worked in Bulgaria, where they have identified 500 artifacts and architectural remnants. Despite initial opposition, Bulgaria agreed to the project.
Kosovo: The same team that worked in Bulgaria has identified 229 remnants included in the inventory since 2001 in different parts of Kosovo.
Macedonia: Surveys were carried out in three different regions in 2002; during the surveying, 409 remnants were identified and included in the inventory.
Egypt: A team under the guidance of Professor Abdüsselam Uluçam has completed its work in Egypt. A total of 311 remnants have been identified within the program carried out in collaboration with Egyptian authorities.
Tunisia: The same team has also identified 190 Turkish remnants in different parts of Tunisia since 2001.
Jordan: The team headed by Professor Uluçam has identified 72 Turkish remnants in Jordan since 2002. The surveyed areas included Cizre, Azrak, Cera?, Aclun, Deyr Alla, Ağvar, Tabakat Fahl (Pella), Cize, Dab'a, Zarka, Kufrance, Katrane, Kerek, Tafila, Şavbek, Petra, Udruh, Maan, Akaba, Anize (Unayza) Cirfu'd Deraviş, Hasa, Salt Madaba, İrbid, Ummu Kays and Mafrak.
Syria: The same team also identified 564 artifacts and architectural remnants in Syria in 2002 and 2003.
Hungary: Professor Bekir Deniz and his team have identified 40 artifacts and remnants since 1999; because of Professor Deniz's deteriorating health, the team completed the inventory in his absence.
Austria: The team headed by Professor Deniz started its work in 2001, but has reviewed only some parts of the scheduled areas. The artifacts in the non-surveyed areas are currently being identified.
Romania: Professor Deniz has identified 87 remnants since 2003.
Kazakhstan: Professor Deniz's team started its work in this country in 2004; the work still continues.
Kyrgyzstan: A team headed by Dr. Rüstem Bozer is currently carrying out its inventory in this country; 45 artifacts have been identified so far.
India: Teams in India have identified more than 80 Turkish artifacts; inventory work there is about to be completed.
Croatia: Three separate teams have identified 53 artifacts and architectural remnants.
Iraq: Inventory work has not been carried out in Iraq due to war, but estimates put the number of artifacts and architectural remnants above 500.
Sudan: A total of 20 Ottoman tombs have been found following a survey.
Currently under review: Work on the identification of Turkish artifacts and remnants still continues in Ukraine, France, England, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Yemen, Israel, Palestine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Serbia.
‘Turks on Greek islands alienated from their identities'
Professor Mustafa Kaymakçı, the president of the Culture and Solidarity Association of Rhodes, İstanköy (Kos in Greek) and the 12 islands (Dodecanese in Greek), assessing the current condition of Turks on the Greek islands, said, "The Turks who live on these islands are being alienated from their identities."
Noting that thousands of Turks live on Rhodes and İstanköy, Kaymakçı said a ban prevents forming any organization on the basis of a Turkish identity and that Turkish children were deprived of their right to learn Turkish.
"Architecture dating from the Ottoman period on Rhodes and İstanköy is damaged, particularly the mosques, and permission to restore them is never granted. Upon complaints, the Greeks have begun renovating some mosques only for show and such restoration does not get completed for years and is totally contrary to the original plans of the mosques. They draw Byzantine patterns instead of the usual Turco-Islamic Ottoman motifs. The Directorates of Foundations is rendered totally functionless in the hands of some who collaborate with the Greeks," he said.
"Rhodes, İstanköy and the 12 islands are being militarized by Greece, contrary to the Lausanne Treaty of 1923 and the Paris Treaty of 1947," Kaymakçı said, adding: "They also train militia forces against the Turks on the islands. Tourists who visit the city can see the presence of these militia forces. Greece has been following its expansionist policy of Megali Idea, an irredentist concept of Greek nationalism expressing the goal of establishing a Greek state that encompasses all ethnic Greeks, against Turkey since 1850." İzmir Today's Zaman
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