The population exchange between Turkiye and Greece 100 years ago this year has been commemorated in Didim by grandchildren and families of relatives who experienced it.
Their ancestors came to Kovela Port – now known as Sedef Koy on the Mavisehir coastline – where they first set foot on Turkish soil. They were transferred from Greece in the Belfast-built cargo ship Gülcemal to Turkiye after the Turkish War of Independence. The population exchange between 1922 and 1924 involved millions of people.
The anniversary was commemorated by leaving flowers in the sea and the event was organized by the Rumelian Culture and Solidarity Association. It was attended by many civic dignitaries, including CHP Aydın Deputy Evrim Karakoz, Didim District Governor Can Kazım Kuruca, Didim Garrison Commander Colonel Ali Saçan, Didim Mayor Hatice Gençay, Didim Gendarmerie Commander Mustafa Gani Solak, CHP Aydın Provincial Deputy Chairman Kemal Güneri, Didim CHP District Chairman Aşkın Atlı, some Didim Municipality council members, Association President Berrin Muslu and association members, as well as many relatives of those peoples that were involved in the exchange.
In his speech at the commemoration event, Berrin Muslu, President of Didim Rumelia Culture Survival and Solidarity Association, said, “To commemorate our ancestors who suffered greatly on these migration routes, we gather at Kovela Port every year, where they first stepped, and leave our flowers in the sea in their memory.
“Exchange is a struggle, new lives, new beginnings. Our ancestors’ journey, which started with the cargo ship named Gülcemal on which they boarded ended at Kovela Port. They took the first start, the first step, here.
“As the heirs of a century-old history, we experience the spiritual peace of commemorating our ancestors, who lived under difficult conditions, lived in unity and solidarity, and are the greatest elements of our existence today.”
Didim Mayor Hatice Gençay said: “Emigrants came in their hundredth year and formed Didim. We continue our work and work hard to move Didim to better places, as it should be. I had previously promised our association that we would build a monument in memory of our supporters who took the first step.
“As the municipality, I would like to reiterate this statement in your presence. Hopefully, we will inaugurate our ‘First Step’ monument at the event next year. This process will be immortalized with the statue.”
Didim District Governor Can Kazım Kuruca, in his speech about the meaning and importance of the day, said, “Didim’s story is actually the story of our young but ancient republic. It is the story of our republic, which transformed from those conditions into a geography that is truly in existence today. This is exactly the story of Didim’s exchanges.
“We, who live here today as the grandchildren of the exchanged people, are actually seeing the reward of the sweat they shed that day. Today, we have to offer that thanks and gratitude to our ancestors. We say may God bless them all.”
The Didim Rumelia Culture and Solidarity Association organized a concert on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Türkiye-Greece Population Exchange. Didim Music Association (DİMDER) took the stage at the concert.