Athens pledges monument to genocide of Turkey’s Black Sea Greeks

A monument successful Thessaloniki for the victims of the genocide of Turkey's Black Sea, oregon Pontic, Greek population.

Athens municipal authorities will erect an authoritative monument to the victims of the genocide of Black Sea, oregon Pontic, Greeks by the Ottoman Empire much than a 100 years ago, the capital’s politician said Tuesday.

Haris Doukas made the announcement successful a κοινωνικά media station but gave nary accusation connected when and where the monument mightiness materialize. 

Greece has declared May 19 arsenic a time of remembrance for the centrally organized persecution, that led to some 350,000 estimated deaths, of millennia-old Greek populations on modern Turkey’s Black Sea seashore and its mountainous hinterland betwixt 1914-23.

The projected monument was debated astatine Monday’s municipal assembly session. The Greeks who formerly lived on Turkey’s Black Sea seashore are known successful Greece arsenic the Pontic Greeks, from Pontos, the past word for oversea that came to beryllium used successful notation to the Black Sea.

“The Pontic Greeks, contempt being persecuted and coming to Greece arsenic refugees, preserved their history, connection and traditions live and became portion of the strength and individuality of modern Greece,” Doukas said. “It is our slightest work to make a Genocide Memorial, so arsenic not to let forgetfulness to erase the historical truth.”