Gov't on Erdogan visit to Athens

"We have a specific stance as far as our foreign policy is concerned. We are not isolationist, nor do we reject relations with other states, particularly neighbouring ones ... It's counterproductive not to discuss problems with other parties," government spokesman George Petalotis emphasised on Tuesday, ahead of a visit later this week to Greece by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Responding to press questions during his regular briefing, the spokesman merely reminded that "Greece recognises the (Aegean) continental shelf issue as the only problem with the neighbouring country.

"However, (Turkey) being a neighbour and a country that wants to become an EU member, we have an obligation to have relations and talk ... We have an extrovert foreign policy and we talk with them because we have absolutely nothing to be concerned about," added.