KEŞAN-ALEXANDROUPOLIS MEETINGS AND THEIR REPERCUSSIONS ON TÜRKİYE

Abstract

The Cyprus issue has become one of the main elements of Turkish-Greek relations since the mid-1950s, has been perceived as a “national cause” by the public opinions of both Türkiye and Greece, and has become one of the most important determinants of Turkish foreign policy. At the Summit Conference held at the level of prime ministers in Keşan and Alexandroupolis on 9-10 September 1967, it was aimed to find a peaceful solution to the existing problems between Türkiye and Greece, including the Cyprus issue, through bilateral negotiations. The meetings, which started with the request and invitation of the Greek side, were inconclusive due to the Greece’s imposition of enosis as the only possible solution in Cyprus. These meetings had wide repercussions in the Turkish public opinion both before and after; various comments and evaluations were made on the issues discussed at the meetings, the thesis and approaches of the parties and other international actors, and the policy should to be followed against Greece. The public’s attitude towards the meetings and their results has become evident in two ways: a positive or critical approach to the meetings. When evaluated in very general terms, while the ruling party and the circles close to it welcomed the meetings and the results obtained, those in the opposition took a critical attitude, although the dose was different. In this study, it has been examined how the KeşanAlexandroupolis meetings are perceived and evaluated by different segments of the Turkish public (government/opposition parties, press and non-governmental organizations).

Keywords

• cyprus
• keşan-alexandroupolis meetings
• turkish-greek relations
• public opinion
• press