Egemen Bağış sends message of peace and cooperation to Greece

Former Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Ambassador Egemen Bağış has expressed Türkiye’s readiness for multi-dimensional cooperation with Greece in the Aegean, stressing: “The Aegean is not a border that separates us, but a bridge that unites us.”

Speaking to a Greek news outlet, Bağış made significant remarks on Türkiye-EU relations and Turkish-Greek ties. He underlined that Türkiye’s goal of full EU membership remains a strategic priority, stating:

“EU membership is a fundamental objective to raise the living standards of our people and to produce common solutions to regional problems. Excluding Türkiye from the European Union would not only be a contradiction but also a serious strategic mistake.”

“Dialogue and cooperation are the only way forward”

Bağış welcomed the recent positive atmosphere in Turkish-Greek relations, stressing that bilateral problems can be overcome:

“We believe that no problem is unsolvable. Dialogue and cooperation are the only way forward for the security and prosperity of both nations.”

He emphasized that Türkiye is open to cooperation with Greece in fields such as energy, environment, transportation, maritime affairs, and fisheries, noting: “The Aegean can be an area of shared opportunities rather than disputes.”

Cyprus and migration issues

Addressing the Cyprus question, Bağış argued that the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to accept political equality has rendered a federation-based solution impossible. For this reason, he reiterated Türkiye’s support for a two-state vision.

Rejecting claims that Türkiye has drifted away from EU values, Bağış stressed Ankara’s commitment to the reform process.

On migration, he reminded that Türkiye has long carried a disproportionate burden and underlined that cooperation with the EU must continue on the basis of fair burden-sharing and mutual commitments.