Turkish PM Davutoglu in Greece for 2-Day Visit
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
on Friday stressed the importance of improving ties with neighboring
Greece and taking steps to turn the Aegean Sea between them into a "sea
of peace," as he began a two-day visit to Athens.
Davutoglu was heading a large delegation of businessmen and nine
ministers, including those of foreign affairs, economy, energy, interior
and customs. The visit will include a joint Cabinet meeting ? a system
begun several years ago as a means of improving the often testy ties
between the two neighbors.
Speaking just before leaving Istanbul, Davutoglu said the two sides
would discuss "steps that we can take in the eastern Mediterranean, in
the Middle East ? and as two neighboring countries we shall discuss steps that we can take to turn the Aegean into a sea of peace."
Greece and Turkey have historically had strained ties, and continue to
be at odds over several disputes, including territorial issues in the
Aegean Sea and the ethnically divided island of Cyprus.
"We will discuss, face to face, the importance that Turkish-Greek
cooperation carries toward peace and stability in the eastern
Mediterranean and the Balkans as well as the opportunities," Davutoglu
said.
"We shall take up steps that Turkey and Greece can take jointly in Cyprus and the Aegean."
Talks between Davutoglu and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras,
attended by the two foreign ministers, covered the entire range of
bilateral issues, including Aegean disputes and Cyprus, Greece's foreign
ministry spokesman said.
Tension increased recently over oil and gas exploration rights off the
Mediterranean island of Cyprus, divided since 1974 into a
Turkish-occupied north and a Greek Cypriot south.
Cyprus is looking to tap energy reserves to help recover from a
financial crisis. It touts itself as a new energy source for a Europe
trying to lessen its dependence on Russian imports.
But Turkey opposes the gas search, insisting the
internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government cannot unilaterally
exploit the country's resources.
In the visit's first meeting, both Papoulias and Davutoglu stressed the importance of good relations.
"We are neighbors, Mr. Prime Minister, and we will remain neighbors. So we must be good neighbors," Papoulias said.
"You are absolutely right, Mr. President. You can change everything
except geographical location," Davutoglu responded according to a
transcript from the Greek presidency, adding that Greece and Turkey have
shared cultural characteristics.
Although often at odds over national issues, the two NATO allies have enjoyed strengthening business ties.
Bilateral trade has nearly doubled, growing from 2.2 billion euros in
2010 to 4.3 billion in 2013, Development Minister Costas Skrekas said
during a speech at the Greek-Turkish business forum the two premiers
were to speak at.
Turkey has become the largest market for Greek products over the past two years, Skrekas said.
"Good neighborly relations go through the expansion of economic ties," Skrekas said.
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