The 11th Pan-Hellenic Conference for the Hellenism of Asia Minor is organized by the Department of Pastoral and Social Theology of Aristotle University and the Federation of Refugee Associations in Greece (OPSE). The Conference is titled: “1922 – The Destruction of Asia Minor, from Lausanne Treaty until Today” took place at the Alexandros Cultural Center in Thessaloniki.
In a keynote speech during the opening session of the conference, Professor Constantinos Chatzikonstantinou of Aristotle Law School, referred mainly to the exchange of populations imposed by the Treaty of Lausanne. He reflected on its consequences and impact. Greece welcomed one and a half million refugees. Turkey accepted a much smaller number at around two-hundred-and-fifty to three-hundred-thousand.
The populations of Asia Minor as underlined by Chatzikonstantinou, not only contributed to the financial restructuring of Greece during the post – war period, but also strengthened the national core with their hardworking spirit and innovative intellectual presence.
A greeting speech was also addressed by the Vice President of OPSE Vassilis Karamanlis, the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Anthimos and the Chairman of the session, Professor Ioannis Touloumakos.
The Conference was concluded on Sunday with recommendations by Professors Athanassios Karathanassis, Vassileios Tsigos and Vassilios Kourkoutsas, lecturers Ioannis Bakas, Miltiades Sarigiannides, Demetris Akrivoulis, the President of OSPE Athanasios Lagodimos, retired Lieutenant Themistocles Voyatzoglou, Historian – Researcher Michalis Varlas, and more.
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