Treaty of Lausanne Monument and Museum

Treaty of Lausanne Monument

Lozan Anıtı
Treaty of Lausanne Monument with a bust of Ismet Inönü, the chief negotiator for Turkey, in foreground.
Coordinates	41°39′09″N 26°31′12″E / 41.65256°N 26.52005°E / 41.65256; 26.52005
Location	Karaağaç, Edirne, Turkey
Material	Concrete
Height	36.45 m (119.6 ft) 31.95 m (104.8 ft) 17.45 m (57.3 ft)
Beginning date	March 29, 1998 (1998-03-29)
Opening date	July 19, 1998 (1998-07-19)
Dedicated to	Treaty of Lausanne

The Treaty of Lausanne Monument and Museum (Turkish: Lozan Anıtı ve Müzesi) are a monument and a museum dedicated to the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923. The monument, opened in 1998, is located at Karaağaç, Edirne in Turkey, and the museum is next to it in the former train station building.

Background

The Treaty of Sèvres, that marked the end of World War I was signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies on August 10, 1920. It was, however, rejected by the Turkish national movement due to significant loss of territory, and failed so. Following the victorious Turkish War of Independence fought against the Allied forces of British Empire, French Republic, Kingdom of Italy and Kingdom of Greece, which occupied a great portion of Turkish mainland, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 24, 1923. The peace treaty ended the conflict between the Turkish nationalists and the previous parties of the Allies in a second attempt. With this treaty, the borders of the modern Turkish Republic were defined.^[1][2]

In line with the treaty, the Greek-Turkish border was redrawn, and Karaağaç quarter of Edirne on the south bank of the Maritsa was returned from Greece to Turkey. Karaağaç railway station, the main train station of Edirne, was in use until 1971 when the railway line crossing in and out the borders of Greece and Turkey in a short distance close to Edirne was changed. The abandoned railway station and the surrounding area was assigned later to Trakya University.^[3][4]

In 1996, the senate of Trakya University concluded the establishment of a monument and a museum next to the former railway station, which housed after redevopment the university administration. The groundbreaking for the monument took place on March 29, 1998. The surrounding area of the monument was established as a public park by planting 74 young trees in respect of the 74th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. It was decided to add one more young tree every year. The construction of the monument lasted a scant four months, and it was inaugurated by the then President Süleyman Demirel (in office 1993–2000) on July 19, 1998, on the 75th anniversary of the Republic.^[5][6]

Trakya University budgeted the project to 148 billion (approximately US$617,000 at that time).^[7]

Monument

Statue on the monument depicting the treaty and peace.

The monument consists of three concrete columns in different sizes, erected onto three separate concrete consoles, inclined at 45 degrees and standing on raft foundation. The longest column with 36.45 m (119.6 ft) height represents Anadolu (Anatolia) as the mainland of Turkey on Asia. The second column is 31.95 m (104.8 ft) tall and symbolizes Trakya (Thrace), the western part of Turkey on Europe. The third column, standing in the mid of the other two, represents Karaağaç with its 17.45 m (57.3 ft) height.^[5][6]

A concrete ring at 7.20 m (23.6 ft) height, which ties the columns, represents unity and solidarity. In front of the ring, a 4.20 m (13.8 ft) tall metal statue of a young woman represents aesthetics, grace and justice. The young woman figure holds a dove in her left hand symbolizing peace and democracy, and a document in the right hand, which stands for the Treaty of Lausanne. A semicircular pool with 15 m (49 ft) radius at the feet of the monument represents the seas around three sides of Turkey.^[6]

A bust of İsmet İnönü (1884–1973), who acted as the chief negotiator for Turkey during the Conference of Lausanne,^[7] is situated at entrance inside the park.

Museum

A museum was established in the auxiliary building of Karaağaç railway station. It contains in two rooms all the documents, records and photographs belonging to the Treaty of Lausanne as well as personal belongings of İsmet İnönü and cartoons depicting him. Various books related to the peace treaty are displayed in the entrance hallway.^[6]

References

External links

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