Greece’s national day celebrated in Ankara
Greece’s National Day was celebrated in Ankara with a reception hosted by Greek Ambassador to Türkiye, Theodoros Bizakis, at a hotel in the capital. The event was attended by Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, diplomatic representatives, and numerous distinguished guests.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Following the national anthems of both countries, Minister Ersoy expressed his pleasure in attending the event and conveyed the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Highlighting the positive momentum in Turkish-Greek relations, Ersoy noted:
"President Erdoğan’s visit to Athens in December 2023 and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Ankara in May 2024 were both successful. The dialogue mechanisms between our foreign ministries have gained momentum."
Emphasizing the importance of economic ties within the positive agenda, Ersoy discussed the progress made in bilateral trade and cooperation efforts.
Tourism and Cultural Cooperation
Minister Ersoy stressed the need to strengthen cultural bonds between the two nations, particularly through tourism, and affirmed that discussions with his Greek counterparts in this area were continuing.
He highlighted a record number of tourist exchanges in 2024 and mentioned a significant cultural milestone—the return of Turkish-origin coins seized in Greece in 2019. This marked the first-ever artifact repatriation from Greece to Turkey under UNESCO agreements and bilateral cultural heritage protection efforts.
International Cooperation & Future Goals
Ersoy acknowledged the broader impact of improved Turkish-Greek relations on international cooperation, stating:
"We are pleased to support Greece’s candidacy for the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term."
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to maintaining a constructive and sincere dialogue at all levels and emphasized that the declaration signed in Athens in 2023 reflected the will to sustain this positive atmosphere in bilateral relations.
"A stronger, more peaceful, and hopeful future will benefit both nations and the entire region," he added.
Aiming for $10 Billion Trade Volume
Greek Ambassador Theodoros Bizakis described the National Day celebration as taking place at a pivotal moment, as both nations continue exploring ways to maintain peaceful neighborly relations.
Bizakis emphasized the historical significance of Türkiye-Greece relations and the development of a concrete roadmap for cooperation. He noted that economic and trade collaboration between the two countries is progressing toward achieving a bilateral trade volume of $10 billion.
Referring to the visa-on-arrival program for Turkish tourists visiting Greek islands, Bizakis highlighted its positive impact on people-to-people ties and the role of tourism in fostering friendship and mutual understanding.
The reception concluded with a dinner service.
