At a news conference, Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, disclosed that he and his Greek counterpart have entered a new and positive moment in their relations, having agreed to revive high-level contacts between their countries.
The news conference came shortly after Fidan had discussions with Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis in Ankara on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
It also follows a rare meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania in July.
Last year, Erdogan had vowed never to talk to Mitsotakis, furious at the Greek leader, who during a visit to the United States, called on Washington not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
However, relations between the two countries improved when Greece became one of the first to send rescue workers to Turkey after devastating earthquakes in February killed 50,000 people.
Fidan disclosed at the news conference, “We are ready to continue dialogue with our neighbour Greece without any preconditions, and to develop our relations in all fields based on common interests.”
“We can solve our problems on the basis of international law, respecting mutual rights and interests,” he added.
Also, Fidan revealed that he and Gerapetritis evaluated their problems concerning the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean in a comprehensive manner during their meeting.
“We agreed on bringing new approaches to the solution of the problems,” he noted.
Greece and Turkey are at odds over territorial claims in the Aegean Sea, energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean and the division of Cyprus, among other issues.
Moreover, Fidan stated they also discussed regional developments, including Ukraine, Libya, and Syria, and emphasized Turkey’s expectations from the EU.
He also lauded the revival of dialogue channels and high-level contacts between Turkey and Greece as a positive development.
“Together with my colleague, we confirmed our mutual will to continue this. We reiterated our belief that problems will be resolved through constructive dialogue between our two neighbors and allies.”
Hakan Fidan
Confidence Building Measures To Commence Soon
On his part, Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis noted that the sides would soon hold talks on a series of confidence building measures and revive a stalled high-level cooperation council meeting.
The two countries are expected to hold a High Level Cooperation Council meeting before the end of 2023, the first such meeting in seven years, he added.
The last High Level Cooperation Council meeting between Türkiye and Greece took place in Türkiye’s Aegean province of Izmir in March 2016.
“We don’t have our heads in the clouds. We know that the distances that developed with the passage of time and the passions passed on from generation to generation cannot be erased with one stroke.
“But we have the disposition and the will to invest in candour and mutual understanding so as to seek common ground, break with established opinions and, where there are disagreements, at least not have them lead to crises.”
Giorgos Gerapetritis
Gerapetritis said that maintaining the dialogue channels between Türkiye and Greece within the framework of mutual understanding and respect accelerates the elimination of crises.
Turkey and Greece have a historical responsibility, Gerapetritis noted, adding that this gives both countries the task of carrying out necessary initiatives.
“We have to eliminate some stereotypes and we will do our best to eliminate similar views that cause crises, ” he emphasized.
“We will do this within the framework of the basic rules. The basis for this is the rules of international law,” he added.
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