"Treasures of Konya and Sille" exhibition opened in Kavala

An exhibition showcasing artifacts and photographs belonging to Cappadocian refugees, titled "Treasures of Konya and Sille," was inaugurated in Kavala. The exhibition features items brought by the Cappadocian population exchanged between Greece and Türkiye during the population exchanges of the early 20th century.

The event was organized in collaboration with the municipalities of Konya Selçuklu and Kavala, the Mohammed Ali Research Center (MOHA), the New Gerveli Cappadocia Research Center, and Necmettin Erbakan University. Key figures in attendance included Konya Selçuklu Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, AK Party Konya MP Mustafa Hakan Özer, Türkiye's Consul General in Komotini Aykut Ünal, and Necmettin Erbakan University Rector Prof. Dr. Cem Zorlu.

Mayor Pekyatırmacı highlighted the significance of the exhibition for preserving and promoting shared cultural heritage, emphasizing that similar exhibitions had been held before, such as the one during the International Sille Symposium in Konya. He expressed pride in showcasing artifacts from Konya and Sille in Greece.

He further noted, "This exhibition gives us the opportunity to see the culture of coexistence and tolerance that existed a century ago." Pekyatırmacı emphasized the positive impact such cultural initiatives can have on Turkish-Greek relations, reminding everyone of the shared history where Muslims and Christians once lived together in both Anatolia and Greece.

Consul General Aykut Ünal underscored the importance of Turkish-Greek friendship, describing it as a legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He emphasized the need to continue fostering this friendship, referencing the December 2023 Athens Declaration signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek President Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which aimed to renew cooperation between the two nations.

The exhibition will remain open until September 10, 2024.