Turkey’s only Greek-language newspaper faces closure

Turkey's only Greek-language newspaper is threatened with closure due to declining revenue following the financial crisis in Greece.
TO GO WITH AFP STORY IN FRENCH BY NICOLAS CHEVIRON:Greek crisis threatens minority newspaper in Istanbul Mihail Vasiliadis, owner of the Apoyevmatini newspaper, poses during an interview with an AFP journalist at his office, in Istanbul, on July 12, 2011. Apoyevmatini, the main newspaper of the small Greek community of Istanbul, has survived the vagaries of Greek-Turkish relations for 86 years. It is now threatened with closure, as Greek companies cut advertising. AFP PHOTO / MUSTAFA OZER (Photo credit shou
Mihail Vasiliadis, owner of the Apoyevmatini newspaper, looks at the paper in his office in Istanbul, July 12, 2011. - MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty Images
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Orhan Kemal Cengiz
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I was shaken when I read the news that Turkey’s only Greek-language newspaper, Apoyevmatini, had ceased publication. I knew it was inevitable, but it was nonetheless going to be the end of a history that I did not want to come to a close. The number of non-Muslims in Turkey has dwindled so much that every negative report I hear about them adds to my fears that one day nothing will be left behind of them in this country.

I contacted Mihail Vasiliadis, the editor-in-chief of Apoyevmatini. He told me the news report had been wrong, but his explanation of why it was wrong and what the real story was made me ponder Turkey's yesterday and tomorrow.

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