Ankara-Athens ties show signs of easing
Relations between Ankara and Athens have shown signs of easing after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered messages emphasizing dialogue and coexistence.
Speaking to Turkish journalists in New York, Erdogan said Türkiye was not Greece’s enemy but its neighbor and an ally under the NATO umbrella.
Greek media described the remarks as a conciliatory message following tensions between the two countries in recent months.
Mitsotakis echoes call for dialogue
Hours after Erdogan’s remarks, Mitsotakis also called for continued dialogue with Türkiye in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
“We cannot change geography; living side by side is our destiny,” Mitsotakis said.
He said Greece had spent the past three years seeking to improve relations with Türkiye, build confidence and maintain open channels of communication to prevent tensions from developing into crises.
Mitsotakis described Greek-Turkish relations as sensitive and said the relationship continued to carry the weight of history.
He also argued that “unilateral actions” and “threats of war” were obstacles to meaningful dialogue.
Athens says reducing tensions is key
A senior Greek government source told local media that the latest statements represented a different tone from those heard in the recent past.
The source said reducing tensions was the priority, while also arguing that Athens had not been responsible for raising tensions between the two countries.
Kathimerini, meanwhile, reported that Erdogan had used conciliatory language by describing Türkiye and Greece as allies, but said Ankara continued to take a firm position on a planned electricity cable project in the eastern Mediterranean.
The project is intended to connect Greece and Cyprus with Israel, according to the newspaper, which described Ankara’s position on the initiative as an indication that differences between the two countries remain.
The latest statements from Erdogan and Mitsotakis come as both sides continue to emphasize dialogue and the need to keep communication channels open despite unresolved disputes.
Photo:AA
