about TESEV NGO by Zsuzsi

On Saturday, we visited the NGO TESEV in Istanbul.

We have met a very intelligent, well educated, good English speaking woman for the second time. It seems they are represented the modern Turkey.

TESEV are dealing with minority projects in Turkey.
First we got a general introduction about the different ethnic categories existing in Turkey.

There are religious minorities:
Armenians, around 60000
Greeks around 45000
Jews around 23000

These minorities have been existing according to the Treaty of Lausanne what was signed in 1923, after the 1st World War. (Did you know that only 2 countries have been using 1st WW Treaty?)
They can use their languages and practise the religions freely. But just these 3 groups are mentioned in the Treaty. Out of them, there are Assyrians, Circassians (3million), Kurds 12 million, Bulgarians, Albanians, Native Anatolian non monotheist Groups.
TESEV aims to promote the role of civil society in the democratic process and seeks to share its research findings with the widest possible audience. In order to do so, TESEV organizes regular seminars and conferences, bringing together specialists and policymakers from Turkey and abroad to discuss issues of current concern. It releases project reports, books, pamphlets, policy watch briefings and seminar proceedings aimed at general readership.

TESEV focuses on the most urgent and important policy questions facing Turkey and its neighbourhood in the new century. Program areas are grouped under three headings:
- Democratization
- Foreign Policy
- Good Governance
Some of the most remarkable of TESEV’s work have been on the issues of Islam and democracy, combating corruption, state reform, and transparency and accountability. Among the ongoing project areas are security sector reform, minorities and citizenship rights, transparency and strengthening civil society as well as Cyprus, Middle East and North Africa, and Turkey and European Union relations.
You can find more info here:
http://www.tesev.org.tr