North Aegean islands and the Black Sea Basin 1
Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau
voyage
Joachim du Bellay
Happy the one that traveled the trip of Odyssey
George Seferis
General Information – Location
North Aegean Region consists of 10 inhabited islands and numerous uninhabited. The
whole area of the Region is 3.836 km2. Five of the islands of North Aegean Region
are considered big in terms of size compared to the other Aegean islands (Lesvos,
Limnos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria) and two of them are regarded as big islands namely
Lesvos and Chios.
Aegean Sea is connected to the Marmara Sea (Marmara Denizi) and the Black Sea via
the Dardanelles Straits. North Aegean islands are located on the northern part of the
sea route that connects Black Sea with the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Historic Connection between North Aegean Islands and the Black
Sea Basin
In the Greek mythology the journey to the Black Sea was presented in the mythical
trip of Argonauts. Later, Herodotus described the Black Sea Region as a north
mythical land suitable for exploration and commercial activity. Greek boats were
importing metals, wood, salted fish, grain and raw materials and at the same time they
were exporting olive oil and wine. Greek cities started establishing colonies in the
Region since the 7th century B.C.
Immigrants from the North Aegean islands settled in the Black Sea Region
conducting trade. 2
1
The current presentation is based on the kind contribution of the National Centre for Social Research and the
services of Regional Authority of North Aegean.
2
Tsetskhladze, G.R., “Greek Penetration of the Black Sea”, at Tsetskhladze, G.R. – De Angelis, F. (ed.), The
Archaeology of Greek Colonisation (Oxford 1994)
1 Ermonassa or Ermoneia, a port city in the area of modern Krasnodar in Russia, was
established from immigrants from the city of Mytilini, Capital of Lesvos island. 3
During the Byzantine and Ottoman era trade between north Aegean islands and the
Black Sea Region intensified. In order to facilitate the increasing needs of trade and
transportation with the Black Sea, shipyards were established on the islands of Lesvos
and Samos where large quantities of timber were available. Besides goods a lot of
people were traveling at that time. Members of imperial families, generals and
soldiers, exiles and pilgrims, scholars and artists, by exchanging knowledge and ideas
have contributed significantly to enriching the cultural heritage of Black Sea Basin
countries and to the formation of today’s identity.
During the 18th and the 19th centuries north Aegean islanders immigrated massively to
the Black Sea area. North Aegean settlers were primarily engaged either on large
scale trade, banking and shipping, or in small scale trade. Many of them became
sailors, craftsmen, artisans, clerks, laborers and servants.
On the top of the social
stratification
of
the
North Aegean diaspora
in the Black Sea
countries we find the
merchant, maritime and
banking dynasties from
Chios island, while also,
many
distinguished
shipbuilders, craftsmen
and artisans on the
Imperial Naval Base of
Istanbul were from the
islands of Chios and
Lesvos.
Others were working on the shipyards of the Bulgarian Black Sea Cost (Nesebar,
Cozopol, Αktopol, Pomorie), on the delta of Danube (Galati, Braila), on the
Rumanian port of Costanta and on the ports of Ukraine, Georgia and Krimea. In
several sources people of Limnos are referred to as experienced metallurgical
workers, people from Lesvos as land lessors, hoteliers and restaurant owners. People
from Samos were referred to as tobacco, wine and wood merchants, people from
Psara as very capable sailors, and finally people from Ikaria as coal makers. 3
Finogenova S. I..“Hermonassa”, στο Grammenos (D.V.) – Petropoulos (E.K.), (ed.) «Ancient Greek Colonies in
the Black Sea», v. 1, Oxford, 2007.
«Corpus Inscriptionum Regni Bosporani», Moscow-Leningrad, 1965.
2 The Skaramangas, Rodokanaki, Petrokokkinos, Mavrokordatos and Sevastopoulos
families from Chios were typical examples of entrepreneurs operating in all countries
of the Black Sea. Other examples from Lesvos were the Goutos and Sifnaios (Sifnaios
frères) families. Some of these families have been distinguished for their contributions
in culture. It is worth mentioning that in 1883 the Lesbian boat owner and merchant
Choutzaios, establishes the Aegean Steam Navigation Company which connected the
islands of North Aegean with the ports of the Black Sea Region.
As far as culture is concerned typical figures was Seraphim Mitilineos a monk and
precursor of modern Greek enlightenment era, Nikiforos a musical deacon from Chios
island who taught at the Music School of Iasi, and Lycurgus Logothetis, a leading
personality in the modern history of Samos, who lived part of his life in the Danubian
principalities.
During the first decades of the 20th century ethnic tensions, wars, social upheavals,
refugee waves and massive immigration have marked the history of our countries
restricting considerably the interactions between our regions and our peoples.
Vice versa the Black Sea view of North Aegean islands is evident in cartography 4 , in
travel texts and official reports compiled by sightseers and state servants, military and
ecclesiastical dignitaries of the Russian Empire 5 , and on the texts of Romanian and
Bulgarian pilgrims. Moreover, life in Limnos island was described in the memoirs of
white émigrés and Cossacks, a large number of whom have stayed there after
evacuating USSR. 6
Prospects of co-operation within the framework of the Black Sea
Basin Program 2014-2020
Maritime Cooperation
North Aegean islands have developed through the centuries close cultural economic
and social ties with the countries of the Black Sea Basin, since as already mentioned
above, a large number of our islanders have settled in the various countries of the
Black Sea. In this framework, the famous Chian Network was established. Its
presence is still continuing today as a large number of Chian commercial fleet is built
in the shipyards of Black Sea especially in Romania and Ukraine not to mention that a
large part of their crews are also from the Black Sea countries, contributing this way
to the creation of job opportunities. Maritime research on key issues such as maritime
safety will give a boost to regional cooperation and vice-versa: cross-border
cooperation schemes such as the Black Sea Basin Programme may operate as the
means for supporting and advancing maritime research. “Maria Tsakos Foundation”,
4
Atlas of the Archipelago and manuscript charts of the first Archipelago expedition of the Russian navy in 17691774, Moskva 1997.
5
Russian travelers to the Greek world (12 th –first half of the 19 th centuries), Moskva 1995
6
Nikita Mihalkov movie : Limnos : The Russian Golgotha, Russian : Русские без Россий, Dec. 2011
3 based in the region of North Aegean, is only one of the Non-governmental institutions
with long experience on this field that can contribute in this direction.
Environmental Cooperation
Many researchers have stated that Western Europe is richer than Eastern, or South
Europe because in contrast to Northern Europe, Southern and Eastern Europe is
completely disconnected from the dense waterway network in the northwestern
plain 7 . North Aegean and Black Sea Region are interlinked and share the most
valuable asset which is water. Through this ancient sea route from Black Sea to North
Aegean and vice versa the problem of the mountainous Balkan terrain which
represents a major barrier to trade, economic and social development can be tamed.
Water quality in the Black Sea
directly affects the situation of
sea waters in North Aegean
posing a major challenge for the
development of tourism (both in
Greece and Turkey) and
fishery 8 . For inhabitants of
small North Aegean islands such
as Agios Efstratios, Psara, and
Oinousses
fish
reserves
preservation
is
of
vital
importance because fishing
provides the major part of
family income.
Nowadays, tourism represents one of the major sources of income for all coastal areas
in the Black Sea and the Aegean. The University of the Aegean with the Environment
Department and the Marine Sciences Department – just to mention one institution – is
eager to cooperate with similar institutions from all countries in the Black Sea basin
and conduct the so much needed research on the issue (Priority 2 of the current
Program).
Tourism
Tourism as mentioned above is one of the main activities in our islands and one of the
main industries in all our countries. Business cooperation on this sector will enhance
tourism and local development. North Aegean chambers of commerce and respective
institutions in Turkey are discussing the prospects of launching joint cruise packages
for the Black Sea and the North Aegean. North Aegean participation to the Black Sea
Basin Program will facilitate these discussions in order to boost cooperation towards
the direction of a unique tourist package. (Priority1 of the current Programme).
Agricultural Products
7
8
Stratfor, Special Report Sept. 2013
Chatzikonstantinou, Angelides, Kotsovinos, Demokritus Univerisity of Thrace, 2005
4 Our Regions are well known for the production of top quality agricultural and dairy
products, not to mention fish. It is our firm belief though, that our traditional high
quality products have not found the position they deserve in the international markets.
By facilitating cooperation and by exchanging of experiences and know-how new
business networks can be evolved. Moreover, the reform of the Common Agricultural
Policy poses new opportunities and challenges for our agricultural economy that need
to be addressed also on inter regional level. Our Region has a large number of PGI
(Products of Geographic Indication) and PDO Products (Protected Designation of
Origin). By participating in the Black Sea Program, we hope to raise knowledge of the
markets from the other countries and gain access to them. At the same time, we are
ready to help and train producers from the Black Sea Region to gain access to our
national market, or to other foreign markets that we are actively present. By joining
forces we will be able to build new business networks that will facilitate access to
new markets (Priority 1 of the current Programme).
Local Authorities
Apart from the above, cooperation between Regional and Municipal Authorities
especially on the common issues that we face (e.g. waste management, threats from
climate change, forest fires) and the need to boost economic and social development,
can be fruitful and sustainable since, among others, they will be based on the already
long standing cooperation networks (Priorities 1, 2 of the current Programme).
Culture and Education
The University of Aegean has its headquarters in Mytilene (Lesvos Island) while
many of its units (Schools and Departments) are also located on several islands of the
North Aegean Region, thus making the University of the Aegean a pioneer
University-Network 9 .
On the other hand, hundreds of young students from our islands study at the
Universities of the Black Sea Basin countries mainly in Romania and Bulgaria.
Through the Black Sea Basin Programme we’ll be given the chance to boost
cooperation between higher education institutions in our Regions which is currently
almost not existent (Priority 3 of the current Programme).
Additionally, it is within our priorities to promote training in Black Sea Basin
languages, including Greek, as a considerable number of migrants (e.g. from Ukraine,
Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia) have settled on our islands revitalizing the
long standing relationship between Aegean and the Black Sea Countries.
Concluding, it is worth referring to the initiatives taken by the regional authorities
aiming at the restoration and presentation to the public and the new generations of the
unique monuments dating from the Byzantine and Ottoman era 10 , demonstrating our
common cultural heritage.
9
http://www.aegean.gr/aegean/en/intro_en.htm
10
LESVOS – MIDILLI, Turist Rehberi ve Osmanli Donemi Eserleri, Kyzey Ege Bolgesi, 2013
5 Many scholars note that Western Europe’s higher and faster development is a result of
the river transportation systems (Stratfor. Oct. 2013). We firmly believe that the same
role can be played nowadays by the Black Sea and the Aegean for the benefit of all
the peoples of the region.
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6