[MGSA-L] GREEKS IN MOLDOVA

[June Samaras]

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/ell__1525131KathiLev&xml/&aspKath/ell.asp?fdate=14/07/2006

In Moldova, a slice of Greek history emerges through restoration
efforts by both countries
Home and headquarters of the Friendly Society, a landmark in the 1821
revolution, was discovered recently and will become a museum


Photo: The highways of Moldova are used by horse-drawn transport and
the country's infrastructure is neglected due to lack of state
funding.

By Nikos Bardounias - Kathimerini

CHISINAU - The temperature was 32 Celsius and it was a relief to take
a stroll in one of the many parks in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.

But the paradisal stillness of the park was disturbed by a familiar
sound, a mobile phone ringing to the tune of "Never on Sunday" by
Manos Hadjidakis. Knowing that thousands of Moldovans have worked in
Greece, I wasn't surprised. But I certainly didn't expect to bump into
someone who had come from Gagauzia (an autonomous region in Moldova
where the local dialect is close to Turkish and the inhabitants are
Orthodox Christians) to attend the first congress dedicated to the
home and headquarters of the Filiki Etaireia, or Friendly Society, of
Alexandros Ypsilantis and the enlightenment scholar and monk Daniil
Philippidis.

I met the man with that telltale ring tone, history professor Dimitri
Larbrininov, again at the congress, sitting in a corner and listening
to the speeches. He was moved.

"It is really important that this is happening, and that the
historical link between Moldova and the visionaries of the Greek
revolution against the Turks is being highlighted," he told
Kathimerini.

"When the house is made into a museum you will have achieved something
great for Greek history."

The headquarters

The home and headquarters of the Friendly Society was located some
months ago by a team of researchers working with Deputy Parliament
Speaker Giorgos Sourlas.

Sourlas expressed his interest, which was picked up by the Moldovan
government. Vladimir Voronin, the president of Moldova, promised that
the house would be put into Greek hands so it could be restored and
made into a museum.

According to contracts that were found, the house was built in 1816
and belonged to society member Michalis Katsikas. It was the oldest
house in Chisinau.

The revolution of 1821 was planned in the house, and it was there that
the flame of rebellion against the Ottoman yoke was first kindled.

The work on this house as well as the revelation of its secrets was
presented to the conference, which was held in late June in Chisinau.

At the conference, Sourlas was awarded an honorary doctorate from the
Moldovan Academy of Sciences, in the presence of the country's
political and intellectual leaders.

Speaking at the conference, Sourlas emphasized the timeliness of the
work of revolutionary leader Rigas Ferraios, who placed special
emphasis on the contribution of Moldova to the Greek struggle for
independence.

Addressing Moldovan Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu, Sourlas conveyed
the wish of Greek President Karolos Papoulias to meet his Moldovan
counterpart early next year.

Among the speakers at the conference were Greek academics who belong
to the International Institute of Balkan Cooperation, and Moldovan
academics.

The participants decided to form a joint committee to study the
historic archives of both countries.

The city of Balts, with a population of 120,000, is situated in the
west of Moldova.

It was the last resting place of Philippidis, who was born in Milies,
Magnesia, in Greece, which was a reason to create a link between the
municipalities of Milies and Balts.

At the ceremony linking the two cities, Milies Mayor Apostolos Arethas
proposed to his Moldovan counterpart that the next conference be held
at the Friendly Society's house in Milies.

He also proposed close cooperation between the two cities on culture,
agricultural policy and the development of mild tourism.

The representatives then attended a service conducted by the
archbishop of Moldova in the Church of Aghios Nikolaos, where
Philippidis held services in pre-revolutionary times.

The Autonomous Republic of Gagauzia is 152 kilometers from Chisinau.
It has its own government with 35 deputies who have legislative and
executive powers that are subordinated to the central government in
Chisinau.

It takes about three hours to get there from the capital, because the
road is in a dire state.

Along the highway are dozens of villages, large and small. The wooden
houses are close to one another, each with a well at the entrance.
They look very dilapidated, due to the shortage of money for repairs.
Here and there are a few modern two-story houses to remind the visitor
that it is 2006. "The owners of these houses work abroad; they've
built them with the money they send back," neighbors say.

A typical sight in the small Moldovan villages is of farm animals,
cows, ducks and chickens, which amble along the main road, sure that
they will come to no harm. Any car that goes by stops to let them
pass.

Komrat

Komrat, the capital of Gagauzia, is in better shape. With lots of
greenery, good planning and no traffic congestion or crowded shops, it
looks like a town from the Soviet era.

The local university has a department of modern Greek with more than
40 students.

"Some of them have to travel 15 kilometers a day to get to Greek
classes," said Nikos Loukas, who is from Cyprus but lives in Komrat.

We also met Nikos Kafantaris, who represents the development company
of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece
(KEDKE).

He told us he was in the area to observe the implementation of an aid
program with a budget of 220,000 euros from the Greek Foreign and
Public Administration ministries.

"Money from the program will be used to repair university lecture
theaters and install modern equipment, to install heating and hot
water systems in the hospital in the city of Kopcak, and provide the
local first aid center with an ambulance and a cardiographer," said
Kafantaris.

-- 
June Samaras
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