Imbros and Tenedos Greeks during the Republican Era

Imbros and Tenedos islands which are geographically located at the enterance of the Dardanelles, have been strategically important islands throughout the history because of the their geographic location. These islands had fallen under the hegemony of Ottoman State at 15th century. Since that time to the Balkan Wars (1912), Ottoman State administrated them continuously. During the Balkan Wars, Imbros and Tenedos were both invaded by Greece. However, according to the Lausanne Treaty (1923), both islands are under the administration of Republic of Turkey. Under the effect of domestic and foreign politics, from 1923 till now, within the context of minority policies some applications for Imbros and Tenedos Rums were implemented. The Rum population living in Imbros and Tenedos has been affected by the minority policies which were put into force because of the Cyprus Issue erupted on 1955. The most significant changes were made on schools. As a retaliation to the policy of Greece implemented on Western Thrace Turks, Rum schools at Imbros and Tenedos started to have distinctive practices compared to the ones in Istanbul. Both Cyprus issue and the problems of Western Thrace Turks living in Greece caused the Rum population on the islands to face problems related to their lands. Turkish policies against Rum population had resulted in immigration of Rum people to Greece and other countries. The process started with Cyprus issue, affected directly by the policies of Greece against Western Thrace Turks. It is an ongoing process based on recrimination. After Turkey reshaped its minority policies due to the EU full membership process, a new political phase started for Imbros and Tenedos Rums. EU progress reports mentioned about Imbros and Tenedos Rums. By the help of the Progress Reports, Rum population opened Rum Schools. Nowadays, Rum population have been working on solving problems related land properties and resettling to islands. They have been lobbying on both national and international platforms.