THE LAUSANNE CONFERENCE 1923

In 1923, the victorious European powers of the First World War partitioned the Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Lausanne was signed on July 24, 1923 between Turkey, Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Romania, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes at the Palais de Rumine. The negotiations took place at the Château d'Ouchy.

NO AUTONOMOUS TERRITORY FOR THE KURDS

The Treaty of Lausanne established the current borders of Turkey and Greece. After winning the Greco-Turkish War in 1922, this treaty enabled Turkey to revise the provisions of the Treaty of Sèvres concluded after the First World War, in part to its own liking. The treaty legalized a posteriori the expulsion of Greeks or Turks that had already taken place and, contrary to what England had promised, the treaty did not guarantee the Kurds an autonomous territory. To this day, the Kurds remain the largest ethnic group without a country of their own. 

A REFLECTION ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE TREATY

In 2023, we will take the opportunity of the treaty's centenary to discuss its context and the serious consequences for the Kurdish community, which shape the reality of their lives to this day. Together with Kurdish and Swiss politicians and artists, we want to draw attention to the question of why Kurdistan was divided, what role Switzerland wishes to play in the conflict resolution process, and how we can deal with the legacy of colonialism emanating from Europe.

THE ROLE OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AS A MODEL

"Lausanne 2023" does not engage in political propaganda, but takes a strong interest in the sacrifices of the Kurdish community as a result of these border demarcations and the resulting conflicts. The driving idea behind the project is that culture, theater and the arts can serve as models for social processes, and that the "arts" are not a generic term for entertainment, but rather always represent a way of life that also has positive effects on society.

NOT POLITICIZATION, BUT CULTURAL AWARENESS

We don't take a one-sided view, nor do we allow ourselves to be instrumentalized by political sites. The project serves to raise cultural awareness and impart knowledge. Through exemplary cooperation between authors, actors, visual artists and architects, we show the richness and differences of the two cultures, but also their commonalities. The focus will be on themes such as religion and mythology, sustainable ecology and progressive federalism.