Erdogan speaks in Athens of "new era" in relations with Greece
"We must be optimistic, and this optimism will bear fruit in the future," Erdogan added at a meeting with his Greek counterpart Katerina Sakellaropoulou. One of his goals was to almost double the bilateral trade volume from the current 5.5 billion dollars to 10 billion dollars (9.3 billion euros). Erdogan had previously called Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "my friend" in a Greek newspaper interview.
After his meeting with Mitsotakis, Erdogan said at a joint press conference: "There is no problem that cannot be solved between us." The Turkish president said that "acting with good intentions and focusing on a common vision" was sufficient for this.
Greece and Turkey have long been at loggerheads on a number of issues, including the issue of maritime borders in the Aegean Sea and migration policy. Last year, Erdogan struck a sharp tone with Athens, accusing it of occupying islands in the Aegean and threatening: "We could suddenly come one night."
However, relations have eased slightly since Greece provided aid following the severe earthquake in Turkey last February. The bilateral High Cooperation Council was due to meet again on Thursday for the first time since 2016. According to the Greek broadcaster NTV, the ministers were due to sign 16 bilateral agreements.
A diplomatic representative spoke on Thursday of "positive steps" towards a rapprochement between the two countries. Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis had also recently praised the cooperation between the two countries' coastguards on migration. Greece and the EU are aiming to extend the 2016 refugee agreement with Turkey.
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Erdogan's optimism for a new era in relations with Greece was shared by Katerina Sakellaropoulou during their meeting in Athens. The Turkish president aimed to significantly increase the bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Greece. Previously, Erdogan had referred to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as his friend.
After their meeting, Erdogan expressed confidence that all issues between the two countries could be resolved. He emphasized the importance of acting with good intentions and focusing on a common vision. Tensions between Greece and Turkey have persisted over issues like maritime borders in the Aegean Sea and migration policy.
However, relations began to improve after Greece provided aid following Turkey's severe earthquake last February. The bilateral High Cooperation Council was set to meet again for the first time since 2016. Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis had also commended the cooperation between the coastguards of both countries on migration.
Erdogan and Mitsotakis spoke of a future where problems could be solved amicably. They were set to sign 16 bilateral agreements, a positive step towards strengthening their relations, according to a diplomatic representative. The two nations, plus the EU, were working towards extending the 2016 refugee agreement.
While Turkey and Greece shared a complex past, the prospect of improved relations was a welcome development. The future of these relationships hinged on continued dialogue and cooperation on pressing issues. In light of this, Erdogan's speech in Athens was seen as a significant move towards bridging divisions.
Source: www.stern.de
