Turkish Ambassador Erciyes: “Our real interest lies in cooperation, not confrontation.”
Turkish Ambassador to Greece Çağatay Erciyes underlined the importance of cooperation and dialogue between Greece and Türkiye during a reception on Wednesday evening marking the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye.
Speaking at the event, held at the Turkish Embassy in Athens, Ambassador Erciyes said that the similarities between Greece and Türkiye often outweigh their differences, noting that their geographical proximity brings “not only challenges but also significant opportunities for cooperation.”
Referring to bilateral relations, he stressed that the two countries “are more than neighbours — they are nations connected geographically, historically, culturally, and on a human level.” He highlighted that over the past three years, dialogue channels have been revitalised, high-level contacts have increased, and several meetings have taken place between the two sides.
Erciyes pointed to progress in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, and culture, noting that 1.2 million Turkish citizens visited Greece last year, while more than 700,000 Greeks travelled to Türkiye — a trend that, he said, is continuing into 2025.
Maintaining this positive momentum, the ambassador added, would bring “even greater mutual benefits” and help create a constructive climate for addressing long-standing issues. In this context, he said that Türkiye looks forward to welcoming Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the next High-Level Cooperation Council meeting.
Erciyes also referred to recent remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said that Greece and Türkiye “can make peace possible in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean,” and that all outstanding issues can be resolved through “sincere and substantive dialogue” grounded in international law and good neighbourly relations.
“As close neighbours and NATO allies,” Erciyes concluded, “our real interest lies in cooperation, not confrontation.”
The event was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou and other Greek officials, diplomats, and guests.
