Clear message for Turkey that the Treaty of Lausanne would not be revised and that “one century of the operation of the Treaty will be followed by many others”, the Prime Minister sent Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaking at the opening of the event “Asia Minor: Radiance – Destruction – Eradication – Creation” at the Benaki Museum.

Mr. Mitsotakis praised the contribution of the refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus to the rise of Greece at that time, emphasized that every great retreat could be followed by a greater national success, and that today the “Great Idea” is not connected with geographical possessions, but with the Great Greece. “A strong and self-sufficient motherland of our future. The one that does not forget, because it is she who wants to move forward, ”he added.

The Prime Minister referred to the efforts of the Greek state and Eleftherios Venizelos, who managed to successfully cope with the problem of resettling millions of refugees, as well as to the Treaty of Lausanne and Turkey’s efforts to revise it, stressed:

“Since then, the Treaty of Lausanne has governed our coexistence with our neighbors. And this despite the fact that Turkey violated it by eradicating the Greek element of Constantinople, Imbros and Tenedos. But it still undermines its clear rules, calling into question our sovereign rights. However, the other side of the Aegean must understand that in the almost century of the existence of this Treaty, it will be replaced by many others. This is required by history and geography, legality and international stability. That is why Greece guarantees and will guarantee its observance by the shield of diplomacy and its alliances, as well as the deterrent spear of the Armed Forces. Mostly, however, by its continuous movement towards progress. Because the real confrontation of the country is its past and its future.”

The Prime Minister added that “perhaps in September 22 Hellenism lost one of its most creative centers. However, the country soon learned to win the battle for its prosperity: it strengthened its national homogeneity, avoiding the “ghosts” of other Balkan countries. He fought back. But from the victorious side of history. It flourished with post-war development. And it made the life of the Greeks better.”

He referred to the past, and in particular to the years following the disaster in Asia Minor, speaking of “a path not without error, for the National Division, which preceded the adventure in Asia Minor, was repeated in other forms.”

He mentioned the Civil War and the dictatorship, while noting that “we saw it resurrect only a few years ago in the form of demagogy, again in the face of an economic crisis that called for a national mobilization.”

“All this, however, belongs to the past. The choice of the Greeks shows that the traces of experience become guides for them to a better path. How every major failure can be followed by an even greater national success. And that today the “Big Idea” is not connected with geographical possessions. But with Greater Greece. A strong and self-sufficient motherland of our future. The one who doesn’t forget because she is the one who wants to move forward,” said Mr. Mitsotakis.

“At such times, a hundred years ago, on the shores of Asia Minor, the bloody final act of the Vision of Ionia was being written. Smyrna had already been set on fire, and its Christian inhabitants were being massacred. In the meantime, those who managed to escape the fury of the Turks followed the Greek army towards the Eritrean peninsula, trying to cross over to our islands and from there to salvation. Only their lives. Because their fortunes are already gone…

A little later, in Lausanne, after bloodshed, the end of 25 centuries of the presence of Hellenism in Ionia, Cappadocia, Pontus and Eastern Thrace will be written. After the population exchange, one and a half million souls embarked on the path of the great Exodus. But also the decision to settle down again, in new homes in the homeland.

They traveled with few possessions and a few precious relics. Those that today find their place in a unique exhibition co-organized by the two great commemorative repositories of Ionic Hellenism: the Benaki Museum and the Center for Asia Minor Studies, with the courageous contributions of 88 other institutions. Two institutions that, with effort and passion, have been preserving the heritage of the Greeks of the lost homeland for decades. And for that they deserve our gratitude.

Eradication was a heavy price to pay to secure peace and open a new chapter in national life: “Through the signing of the Convention, unfortunate refugees are provided with the means to start a new life. In better conditions than anyone could have hoped for after the catastrophe in Asia Minor,” wrote Eleftherios Venizelos after the signing of the Treaty. Thus, he gave the signal for the subsequent national upsurge.

And the refugees acquitted him much faster and much more than he himself imagined. Because if the disaster in Asia Minor is perhaps the greatest trauma of our recent past, then the integration of the refugees into the national body is probably the greatest peace achievement of the Greek state.

With a country devastated and in debt after 10 years of struggle, internally unstable and with limited resources, to perform a real miracle: to turn the cry of tragedy into the breath of creation. To discover her mistakes and her wrong choices. Get back on your feet and follow your historical trajectory, which always turns disasters into triumphs. Thanks to the strength and perseverance of the refugees who contributed to the modernization of this place.

The great Asia Minor Ilias Venezis wrote, having experienced the atrocity, but also the re-creation: “The Hellenism of the East stood on its feet, working on the bitter earth. Clearing wild mountains, draining swamps, penetrating into the essence of the life of the country. In industry, shipping, trade, art, literature. Everywhere, advancing to the first places. By changing the pace of work and production and moving it forward. Bringing a new, vigilant spirit into transactions and human relationships.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

All of the above, destruction and rebirth, are depicted in neighboring rooms and their exhibits. I would suggest visiting them not only for memory training, but also for the motivation of national self-consciousness. Because, of course, History does not repeat itself and does not teach by itself. But it helps in finding our collective self. It largely determines the environment in which we, modern people, live. And sometimes wisely leads in an ever-changing world.

The catastrophe in Asia Minor and the unification of the Dodecanese in 1947 determined the final geographical outline of the country. Although since then the Treaty of Lausanne has governed our coexistence with our neighbors. And this despite the fact that Turkey violated it by eradicating the Greek element of Constantinople, Imbros and Tenedos. But it still undermines its clear rules, calling into question our sovereign rights.

However, the other side of the Aegean must understand that in the almost century of the existence of this Treaty, it will be replaced by many others. This is required by history and geography, legality and international stability. That is why Greece guarantees and will guarantee its observance with the shield of its diplomacy and alliances, as well as the deterrent spear of its armed forces. Mostly, however, by its continuous movement towards progress.

Because the real confrontation of the country is with its past and its future. Hellenism may have lost one of its most creative focuses in September 22. However, the country soon learned to win the battle for its prosperity: it strengthened its national homogeneity, avoiding the “ghosts” of other Balkan countries. He fought back. But from the victorious side of history. It flourished with post-war development. And it made the life of the Greeks better.

To be today one of the oldest members of the European family, playing a major role among them. The journey was not without mistakes, since the National Division, which preceded the Asia Minor adventure, was repeated in other forms. Thus, we survived the Civil War and the seven-year dictatorship. Although we saw its resurgence just a few years ago in the form of demagogy, again in the context of an economic crisis that required national rallying.

However, all this belongs to the past. The choice of the Greeks shows that the traces of experience become guides for them to a better path. How every major failure can be followed by an even greater national success. And that today the “Big Idea” is not connected with geographical possessions. But with Greater Greece. A strong and self-sufficient motherland of our future. The one who does not forget, because she is the one who wants to move on!

I end in the same way as Ilias Venezis also modestly concludes his text on the drama of Asia Minor: “After so many passions that we have experienced, we retain as our roof and support the purely Greek vision of man: a sense of dignity and freedom, which is identical with virtue.” Let me actually borrow the title of the book it was published in, as it fits perfectly with today’s exposition: “Baby Rejoice.”

Thanks”.