September 7, 2001
The Honorable Don Siegelman
Governor of Alabama
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
Dear Governor Siegelman:
It is with great regret that I am compelled to write this letter. Your proclamation of
August 8, 2001 as well as the revised version released on August 30, 2001 declaring a
"Day of Remembrance of the Turkish Tragedy for Liberation to Sovereignty and
Independence in the State of Alabama" is historically groundless. Further, most
disturbing is the distortion of your statements and the ruthless exploitation by the
Turkish media.
We as citizens of Greek descent in Alabama and in the USA, are fully aware that every
country has the right to request a proclamation from the Governor of Alabama. A
proclamation, though, that is not premised on inaccuracies and omissions.
The proclamation mentions nothing that it has been over a quarter of a century since
Turkey occupied northern Cyprus by force, violating the United Nations Charter,
NATO's Charter and International law. Neither does the proclamation acknowledge that
the Turkish occupation forces desecrate Orthodox churches and monasteries, and,
moreover, that the Turkish military pillages Greek-Cypriot historical and cultural
monuments.
The proclamation is correct in stating that during World War I, which caused the
breakdown of the Ottoman Empire, millions of citizens of Greek, Armenian and Turkish
descent died from sickness, starvation and compulsory expatriation. Be that as it may,
the proclamation falls far short of the historical fact that the root-cause was the Turkish
military which additionally, committed the first genocide of the twentieth century. The
proclamation comes, also, short of the verifiable truth that Turkey methodically
exterminated all Christian population of the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
whom the August 8 proclamation lionized, was personally responsible for burning Izmir
(Smyrna) in 1922 during which approximately 150,000 Greeks and Armenians were
slaughtered.
During World War I, Turkey's so-called "Tragedy for Liberation to Sovereignty" was the
result of Turkey-waging war against Allied forces, including those of the United States.
And during World War II, Turkey sided with the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo-axis, and switched
sides only at the last moment, when it became evident that the Allies would be
victorious.
Concurrently with the 1990 U.S. and Allied war with Iraq, Turkey did not permit the
United States to utilize its flyover rights over Turkey's airspace, as well as refused to join
the Allied forces all the while the Persian Gulf War continued. And in 1979, Turkey
refused to allow the United States to use U.S. military bases in Turkey for evacuating
Americans from Iran. Turkey even stopped U.S. humanitarian assistance from reaching
Armenia in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 1988.
An additional fact is that U.S. bases in Turkey, necessary for maintaining stability in the
region, are leased for six months at a time thereby forcing the U.S. to negotiate these
leases every six months, at terms and conditions in Turkey's advantage. Is this the
appropriate treatment of an ally?
I would strongly recommend a public announcement by you, Honorable Don Siegelman
denouncing the reports by the Turkish media which have quoted you say: "Many Turks
and Ottoman citizens from different ethnic groups were killed as a result of the Greek
occupation of Anatolia."
Respectfully,
Chris P. Tomaras
SAE Vice President
Regional Coordinator
N. & S. America Region
cc: Andrew A. Athens, SAE World President
Members of the Regional Coordinating Council
SAE Delegates, N. & S. America Region