Dec 7, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
Voicing optimism on Thursday over the settlement of any future tensions
between Greece and Türkiye, the Greek foreign minister observed "a genuine
willingness" between the neighboring countries to boost bilateral ties.
In an interview with Greek public broadcaster ERT following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Athens on Thursday, George Gerapetritis said, "There is a genuine willingness of the two countries to move forward in our relationship."
"The time has come for us to have another understanding. We are
neighboring countries united by geography," he said, adding that the two
countries should put aside the differences that exist and focus on factors
uniting them.
"Today is a historical day, as manifested by the declaration on
friendly relations and good neighborliness which highlights what unites
us."
He added that he is optimistic that the two countries can better handle any
possible tension in the future.
"There can be tensions but they should not stop the course of
productive relations," Gerapetritis said.
He also said that the only major dispute between the two NATO allies is the
delimitation of the economic exclusive zone and the maritime boundaries of the
continental shelf.
"We all understand that our big difference, the only difference, which
can be brought before international justice, is the delimitation of the
exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. It's a difference that goes
back decades. I feel that when the conditions are ripe, we can come to grips
with this difference as well," he said.
Türkiye and Greece on Thursday announced the Athens declaration on friendly
relations and good neighborliness on the occasion of Erdoğan's official visit
to the Greek capital.
Accordingly, the two countries stressed that they are committed to
fostering friendly relations, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence,
understanding, and seeking resolution to any dispute between them in line with
international law, among other things.
Greece also announced that it will offer a facilitated visa scheme for
Turkish citizens up to seven days in 10 Greek islands in the Eastern Aegean.
Moreover, one agreement, seven memorandums of understanding, and seven
joint declarations covering different fields were also signed between the
Turkish and Greek delegations as part of the fifth meeting of the
Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council.
Anadolu Agency