Esteemed members of the press,
The peace loving persons and institutions of Turkey and Greece are deeply concerned about the possibility of the tension between Turkey and Greece over the division of natural gas reserves escalating into a conflict.
Attached you may find the statement expressing the demand for peace we have made as persons and institutions from Turkey and Greece who believe that the problems will be resolved by peaceful means and dialogue and the list of signatories.
In friendship and solidarity
info: Demokrasi İçin Birlik
Common Appeal from Greece and Turkey
PEACE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORD IN EVERY LANGUAGE
LET MEDITERRANEAN BECOME A SEA OF PEACE
We democrats, progressives, socialists, communists, and peace-loving people condemn the tense strife that inflames our countries.
Peaceful ways to solve issues of continental self, Exclusive Economic Zones, and natural gas deposits can be found. However monopolist corporations fighting for profit turn these issues into causes for war.
Under monopoly rule, natural resources and wealth never ever contribute to a better life for the people. Exactly the opposite happens. The harsh exploitation of natural wealth leads to pandemics, draught, and climate change.
Extracting mineral wealth from the bottom of the international seas only speeds up this process. The peoples of Turkey and Greece have no interest whatsoever in the carving up of the Mediterranean.
Peace can reign in our area, and in the world. We can live peacefully and decide by common accord, in a spirit of cooperation, on the employment of natural resources without destroying our environment. We should use every opportunity for the peoples’ wellbeing, not for war.
We mobilize so that imperialists keep their hands away from the Mediterranean and Cyprus, and take away their military bases and their armed forces.
We mobilize against all conflicts originating in antagonisms of local and foreign monopolistic corporations, while they try to divide among themselves natural gas deposits and all kinds of resources. Competition for natural gas deposits must cease immediately, instead of feeding nationalism and the arms race.
We demand that the governments of both countries agree a peaceful solution. We call the peoples of both Turkey and Greece to mobilize against the governments of both Greece and Turkey so that this fight stops.
The Mediterranean belongs to the peoples who live around it, and to all its living creatures, not to monopoly capital.
Peace is the only way for our living as humans. Peace is the only way to secure a life worth living, the life that all people on this earth deserve.
INSTITUTIONS
2017 Bodrum Citizens Initiative / 78’ers Initiative / Academics Association (UNİV-DER) / Aegean Environment and Culture Platform (EGEÇEP) / All Citizens from Tokat Association / All Retired Work Trade Union Edremit Branch / All Retired Work Trade Union Espiye Representation / Anatolia Women’s Movement / Anti-Capitalist Muslims / Atakent Solidarity Network Küçükçekmece / Citizens Initiative / Confederation of Public Employees Trade Union (KESK) / Democratic Alevi Associations Headquarters / Dialogue Group / DISK Retired [Members] Edremit Branch / Edremit City Council Women’s Assembly / Factory Magazine / Friendship and Culture Association / Green Left Party (YSP) / Hacı Bektaş Anatolia Cultural Foundation / Human Rights Association (IHD) / Istanbul Solidarity with Kazdagları / Kaldıraç / Kirkisrak Culture Foundation / Labour Party (EMEP) / PEN Turkey / People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) / People’s Democratic Party (HDP) / People’s Houses (Halkevleri) / Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association / Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association Edremit Branch / Princess Islands Foundation / Renewed Perspective Education Culture Initiative Association / Revolutionary Party / Social Freedom Party (TÖP) / Socialist Renewal Party (SYKP) / Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP) / Soldiers Against Military Coups (ADAM-DER) / Union For Democracy (UfD) / Us for the Future / Workers Party of Turkey (TIP)
All Greece Anti-War Movement Co-ordination (PAKS) / Anticapitalist Left Unity / Confederation of Communist Forces / Conscripted Soldiers Solidarity Committee / Contemporary Communist Political Plan Movement / Greece Political and Social Rights Network / International Anticapitalist Left Initiative / Kallithea Workers Association / Movement to Build the Left (NAR) / Nea Smyrni Workers Association / New Left Current / Nikia Citizens Movement / Organisation to Renew Greece Communist Party / Revolution Initiative (a group within Athens Newspapers Union journalists) / Telesilla Greece Feminist Women’s Network / Trikala Workers Association / Women’s Issues Research Centre / Zografou “Independent City” Municipalities Movement
INDIVIDUALS
Akis Hekimoglou: Member of the Builders Syndicate in Thesprotia / Ali Bas Hamdi: Teacher, Komotini / Anna Bachti: High School Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of Eastern Attica Teachers Union / Anta Papadima: Lawyer, Member of The Provisional Administrative Council of the Salaried Lawyers Union Athens / Antigoni Trouli: Substitute High School Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of Heraklion High School Teachers Union / Antonia Natsiopoulou: Graphic Arts & Design / Antonis Draganigos: Member of the Central Coordination Committee of ANTARSYA / Antonis Gazakis: Member of Thessaloniki City Council, Teacher / Antonis Kourouklis: President of the Panhellenic Personnel Federation of the Social Policy Organizations / Bakolas Dimitris: Administrative Member of Geological Engineers Union of Northern Region / Chris Tourtouras: Substitute University Professor in the School of Primary Education (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) / Christini Louka-Desi: Architect, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Christos Kaloudas: Student, Member of the Student Union of the School of Electric Engineers (Thessaloniki) / Christos Kosinas: Biologist, PhD student, University of Patras / Member of the Regional Council of Western Greece / Christos Kourniotis: Member of the Administrative Council of the High School Teacher Federation / Christos Patsouras: Municipal Counselor in Ioannina / Christos Zaganidis: President of the 5th High School Teachers Union (Thessaloniki) / Dimitrios Konstantis: Psychiatrist at Psychiatric Clinic, General Hospital of Kozani / Dimitris Georgakis: Member of the Administrative Council of the Workers Union in the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens / Dimitris Govas: Bookstore worker, Member of the Administrative Council of the Bookstore employees union (Athens) / Dimitris Konteles: Member of the Administrative Council of Larisa High School Teachers Union / Dimitris Mavridis: Member of Administrative Council of Education Workers Union of Drama / Dimitris Papantzikos: Worker in the Food Sector, Member of the Food & Tourist Sector Workers Union / Dimitris Sarafianos: Lawyer / Dimitris Tzamouranis: President of the Administrative Council of the Salaried Engineers Union / Dimitris Zervas: Municipal Counselor in Nea Smyrni (Athens) / Dionysis Abates: Chemist / Efi Ganiari: President of the 2nd High School Teachers Union of Athens / Eugenia Savvaki: Civil Engineer, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Eva Kalousi: High School Student, Piraeus / Eva Malefaki: Student, Member of the Student Union of the Medical School (University of Athens) / Evi Thaou: Teacher / Georgia Nika: Municipal Counselor in the Municipality of Agioi Anargyroi / Giannis Pachakis: Student, Member of the Student Union of the Chemical Engineers School (National Technical University of Athens) / Giannis Papadimas: Lawyer, PhD candidate (Panteion University) / Member of the Conscripts Solidarity Committee / Giorgos Papagkikas: Member of the Panhellenic Delegation of the Architect Chamber-Panhellenic Architect Union / Giorgos Pavlopoulos: Journalist, Member of the Editorial Board of “PRIN” Newspaper / Giorgos Piagalakis: Civil Engineer, Regional Counselor in the Regional Council of Crete / Giorgos Vratsistas: Agriculturist / Member of the General Council of the Agriculturists Technical Chamber of Greece (Hepirus) / Giota Ioannidou: High School Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of the 5th High School Teachers Union (Eastern Attica) / Hristos Touliatos: Member of Zografou City Council / Ibrahm Onsunoglu: Pensioner Psychiatrist, Komotini / Ilias Mouris: President of the 5th High School Teachers Union (Athens) / Ioanna Vrettou: Municipal Counselor in Nea Smyrni (Athens) / Irini Georgaki-Kollia: Substitute Teacher, Member of the Substitute Teachers Board / Katia Gerou: Theatre Artist / Kiriakos Kacurakis: Director, Painter / Konstantina Gontra: Architect, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Konstantinos Rigopoulos, Korinthos / Kostas Papadopulos: Member of Nikia City Council / Kostas Toulgaridis: Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of the Eastern Attica Teachers Union, Member of the Regional Council of Attica Region / Kostas Vourekas: Architect, Member of the Administrative Council of the Society of Architects-Panhellenic Union of Architects / Liapopoulos Panos: Nurse in Health Center of Kassandreia Halkidiki / Lydia Katti: Student, Member of the Student Union of Nursing School, University of Athens / Manolis Athanasiou: Member of the Administrative Council of the Asprofos Workers Union / Manolis Dafermos: Substitute university professor, University Crete / Maria Xifara: Bank Employee, Member of the Administrative Council of the National Bank Employee Union / Matina Papachristoudi: Member of the Administrative Council of the Journalists Association / Michalis Rizos: Doctor, President of the “Attiko” Hospital Workers Union / Mustafa Ali Colak: Journalist, Translator / Niki Polyzoe: High School Teacher, President of the Fokida High School Teachers Union, Regional Counselor of Sterea Ellada / Nikos Argiriou: Private Employee, Member of the Conscripts Solidarity Committee / Nikos Manavis: Journalist, Regional Counselor in Northern Aegean Region / Nikos Papadamantiou: Member of the Students Union of the School of Philosophy (University of Athens) / Nikos Xiroudakis: Pandiera Website Administrator / Nikos Zamboulakis: Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of the Teachers’ Union in Heraklion-Crete, Member of the General Council of the General Confederation of the Workers in the Public sector (ADEDI) / Nikos Zikos: Breeder / Regional Counselor in Hepirus Region / Nota Vasilopoulou: President of the Panhellenic Workers Union of the Agricultural Insurance Organization / Member of the Administrative Council of Panhellenic Personnel Federation of the Social Policy Organizations (POPOKP) / Ntina Reppa: Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of the “Aristotle” Teachers Union and the General Secretariat of the Civil Servants Confederation, Municipal Counselor in the Municipality of Athens / Olga Kosmopoulou: Doctor, Member of the Administrative Council of the Doctors Union of Athens and Piraeus Hospitals, Member of the Administrative Council of the Workers Union in Nikaia General Hospital / Panagiotis Katsaris: Regional Counselor in Peloponnese Regional Council / Panagiotis Mavroeidis: Engineer, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Panagiotis Rebapis: Member of the Administrative Council of Larisa High School Teachers Union / Panagiotis Xoplidis: General Secretary of the Book-Workers Union (Thessaloniki) / Panayotis Sotiris: University Professor / Panos Papanikolaou: Neurosurgeon, General Secretary of the Hospital Doctors Federation, Member of the Administrative Council of the Doctros Union of Athens and Piraeus Hospitals, Municipal Counselor in Peristeri (Athens) / Pantelis Vaynas: Secratary of Egalio Teachers Union, Member of Egalio City Council / Papadopoulos Dimitris: Member of the Administrative Council of the Union. 61 / Pavlos Anastoulis: Private Employee, Municipal Counselor (Vyronas-Athens) / Pavlos Antonopoulos: Pensioner, High School Teacher / Periklis Pavlidis: Substitute University Professor in the School of Primary, Education (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) / Petros Papapetros: Book-Worker, Member of the Book-Workers Union (Athens) / Polizoi Niki: President of Educatian Workers Union of Fokıdas Region / Saitanis George: Larisa / Sotiris Lapieris: Member of Halandri Municipality Council / Sotiris Liampotis: Student, Member of the Thesprotia Builders Syndicate / Spiros Sakelaropoulos: University Professor (University of Pandio) / Spyros Marchetos: Historian, University Professor in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki / Spyros Roumpas: Civil Engineer, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Spyros Sioutis: President of the Workers Association of the Preveza Region (Hepirus) / Stavros Manikas: Member of the Administrative Council of the Public Transporation Workers Syndicate / Stavros Maragoudakis: Mechanical Engineer, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Stavros Mauroudeas: Professor, Panteion University, Athens / Stefanos Makrigiannis: Teacher, President of the Teachers Union in Rodopi, Member of the Executive Secretariat of the Civil Servants Confederation (Rodopi) / Stefanos Prassos: Member of the Administrative Council of West Macedonia / Tanasis Skamnakis: Journalist / Taxiarchis Kostoyannis: High School Teacher, Member of the Teachers Union in Preveza / Thanasis Agapitos: Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of the 2nd Teachers Union in Thessaloniki, Regional counselor in Central Macedonia Regional Council / Theodoros Perentidis: Member of the Tax Accountants Association of Northern Evros, Regional counselor of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace Region / Thodoris Papachronis, Teacher, Member of the Coaching School Workers Union, Member of the Central Coordination Committee of ANTARSYA / Vaggelis Nanos: Agriculturist, Member of the Administrative Council of Preveza Workers Centre and the Panhellenic Agriculturist Federation / Vasiliki Charcharidi: Architect, Member of the Salaried Engineers Union / Vasilis Liondos: Teacher, Member of the Administrative Council of the High School Teachers Union (Chania-Crete) / Vasilis Tzotzis: Farmer, Florina / Xenopoulos Kostas: Private Employee / Yannis Elafros: Journalist, Member of the Political Committee of NAR for the Communist Liberation / Yannis Samoilis: Member of the Administrative Council of the High School Teachers Federation / Yorgos Maniatis: University Professor / Yorgos Meratsas: Musician
Ahmet Aykaç: Professor of Economics / Ahmet Çevik: Lawyer / Ahmet Dindar: Lawyer / Akın Birdal: Former Member of Parliament, Human Rights Defender / Akın Üstündağ: Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Ali Haydar Konca: Former Minister for EU Relations (HDP) / Ali Şeker: Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Aliye İlay İlkay: Retired / Ayşe Acar Başaran: Member of Parliament /Speaker of the Women’s Assembly (HDP) / Ayşe Arat: Retired Executive Director. / Ayşe Berktay: Translator / Ayşe Erzan: Physicist, American Institute of Physics Andrei Sakharov Laureate / Ayşe Gözen: Academic / Ayşegül Devecioğlu: Writer / Aytuğ Atıcı: Professor / Bahadır Altan: Pilot / Barış Yarkadaş: Journalist, Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Baskın Oran: Retired Academic / Begüm Yavuz: Retired / Binnaz Toprak: Academic / Birsen Temir: President of Anatolia Women’s Movement / Bülent Felekoğlu: Historian Writer / Celal Korkut Yıldırım: President of the Board, Social, Economic, Political Research Foundation Turkey / Celalettin Can: Spokesperson for 78’ers Initiative / Cem Duna: Retired Ambassador / Cemil Günay: Academic / Cengiz Arın: Academic / Çağatay Anadol: Publisher / Çiğdem Yalçın: Retired / Deniz Yıldız: Certified Accountant, Üsküdar Assembly for NO / Dilek Gökçin: Film Director .Dilek Yalçın: District President, Balıkesir Karesi (CHP) / Ebru Günay: Member of Parliament, Party Spokesperson (HDP) / Ece Zereycan: Journalist / Elif Çongur: Academic / Ender Arat: Retired Ambassador / Ercan İpekçi: Lawyer / Ercüment Gürçay: Radio Producer / Erdoğan Aydın: Historian Writer / Erdoğan Kahyaoğlu: Writer / Ergün Duran: Lawyer / Esat Korkmaz: Writer / Esma Taylan: Translator / Üsküdar Assembly for NO / Esra Koç: Certified Agricultural Engineer, Citizens Assembly Board Member / Eşber Yağmurdereli: Lawyer / Fatih Maçoğlu: Mayor of Tunceli / Feleknas Uca: Member of Parliament (HDP) / Ferhat Kentel: Sociologist / Ferhat Tunç: Artist / Fügen Aybars: Retired / Garo Paylan: Member of Parliament (HDP) / Gaye Boralıoğlu: Writer / Gazanfer Karlıca: Architect / Gençay Gürsoy: Professor of Neurology / Gürhan Ertür: Civil Society Volunteer / Hacer Ansal: Academic / Hakkı Saruhan Oluç: Member of Parliament for Istanbul, Deputy Group President, (HDP) / Halil Enis Karal: Artist / Halim Bulutoğlu: Tourism Worker / Princess Islands Foundation President / Haluk Ağabeyoğlu: Researcher / Haluk Levent: Academic / Hanife Yüksel Vanvolsem: Retired / Hasan Can Doğan: Engineer / Hasan Cevat Özdil: Architect / Hasan Öztoprak: Writer / Hüsnü Alkan: Insurance Operative / İbrahim Betil: Company Executive Advisor / İlhan Cihaner: Former Member of Parliament, (CHP) / Irmak Zileli: Writer / İsfendiyar Ülker: Balıkesir Manyas District President (CHP) / Jaklin Çelik: Writer / Kadir Akın: Writer / Kudret Ünal: Electrics – Electronics Engineer, ADAM–DER Member / Mehmet Ali İrtemçelik: Former State Minister, Retired Ambassador / Mehmet Rasgelener: Retired Treasury General Director / Mehmet Taha Deniz: Princess Islands District Co-President (HDP) / Mehmet Tüm: Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Melda Onur: Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Melek Özman: Filmmaker / Meral Danış Beştaş: Member of Parliament, Deputy Group President (HDP) / Mert Büyükkarabacak: Mechanical Engineer / Murat Akbaş: Activist / Murat Bilhan: Retired Ambassador, Abdi İpekçi Peace Award Laureate / Murat Çelikkan: Director of Truth, Justice, Memory Centre / Murat Uyurkulak: Writer / Murathan Mungan: Writer / Musa Piroğlu: Member of Parliament (HDP) / Müge Karalom: Jurist / Naci Akıncı: Retired Ambassador / Nadire Mater: Journalist / Nazar Büyüm: Publisher / Necati Yılmaz: Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Necdet Saraç: Journalist, Writer / Necmiye Alpay: Linguist / Nesrin Nas: Politician / Nesteren Davutoğlu: Communications Specialist / Neşe Sönmez: Editor / Neşe Yaşın: Poet / Nil Mutluer: Academic / Niyazi Zorlu: Writer / Nurcan Baysal: Journalist, Writer / Nurhan Keeler: Research Expert / Orhan Alkaya: Poet / Director / Orhan Düzgün: Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Orhan Silier: Historian / Oya Ersoy: Member of Parliament (HDP) / Pelin Akmören: Activist / Perihan Sarı: Former Deputy Secretary (CHP) / Rahmi Güven: Retired Business Person / Rıza Türmen: Retired Judge European Court of Human Rights / Sabahat Yavuz: Teacher / Sema Kaygusuz: Writer / Semra Somersan: Academic / Sevilay İlkay: Retired / Sibel Özbudun: Retired Academic / Şebnem İşigüzel: Writer / Şehriban Teyhani: Retired Civil Servant, Üsküdar Assembly for NO / Şemsettin Yılmaz: Economist / Şeref Lale: District President Balıkesir Gömeç (CHP) / Şükrü Hamarat: Engineer / Taciser Belge: Editor, Translator / Tarık Günersel: Writer / Tarık Kayakan: Educator, Üsküdar Assembly for NO member / Tatyos Bebek: Dentist / Tayfun Mater: Mining Engineer / Temel Demirer: Writer / Tolga Yarman: Professor / Turgay Develi : Former Member of Parliament (CHP) / Turgut Öker: Honorary President, European Alevi Unions Federation / Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç: Member of Parliament (HDP) / Umur Coşkun: Engineer / Ümit Kıvanç: Journalist, Writer / Ümit Özdemir: Librarian / Ümit Pamir: Former Ambassador to Greece / Ünal Karasu: Retired / Viki Çiprut: Retired Journalist / Yalçın Ergündoğan: Journalist, Writer / Yaman Öğüt: Translator, Üsküdar Assembly for NO member / Yasemin Bektaş: Communications Specialist / Yavuz Okçuoğlu: Metallurgy Engineer, Board Member SODEV / Yusuf Bozkurt: Retired Banker / Yusuf Kemal Tengirşenk: Physicist / Yücel Tunca: Photographer / Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat: Political Science Professor / Zeynep Akıncı: Retired Academic / Zeynep Oral: Journalist Writer, PEN Turkey President / Ziya Halis: Former State Minister, Minister for Labour and Social Security
