The foreign ministers of the two countries met in the Turkish earthquake area.
(Photo: AP)
Athens After the devastating earthquake in Turkey, there is a signal of a cautious rapprochement with neighboring Greece. The relationship between the two states has been marked by numerous conflicts for years, with territorial issues being the main focus.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias surprisingly flew to the Turkish disaster area on Sunday and met with his Turkish colleague Mevlut Cavusoglu. The two politicians hugged, as shown by Greek state television.
Greece immediately provided assistance. Cavusoglu thanked him for that. States will seek dialogue to resolve their problems, he added.
Dendias assured: “Greece’s help to the Turkish people does not end here.” Athens will “do everything” – bilaterally and also within the framework of the EU – to help Turkey, Dendias added. Greek state television reported that he was the first EU foreign minister to visit the disaster area. Several Greek rescue teams are deployed in the Antakya and Hatay regions.
Political observers and commentators in the Greek press have been expressing hope for days that the help that Greece spontaneously provided could lead to a new start in relations between NATO members.
Athens and Ankara have been at odds over territory for decades
After the earthquakes in Turkey and Greece in 1999, relations between the two countries eased. At that time, the two states had helped each other with rescue teams and humanitarian aid. This assistance gradually evolved into an approach known as ‘earthquake diplomacy’. At that time, it ushered in a phase of relaxation that lasted for more than ten years. There has been more tension lately.
Athens and Ankara have been at odds over sovereign rights in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean for decades. In recent months, the Turkish president has repeatedly threatened to invade Greek islands.
Recently there were also gestures of relaxation between Armenia in the Caucasus and Turkey. Despite the difficult situation, the ex-Soviet republic sent rescue teams to the neighboring country. Recently, Turkey also opened a border crossing with Armenia.
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