TIME TO LOOK AHEAD IN TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS

Paying an unofficial visit to Greece, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis indicated that it was time to look ahead in Turkish-Greek relations and that regional cooperation would be beneficial for everyone.

Minister Bagis and his spouse Beyhan Bagis met with Stavros Dimas, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dimitris Avramopoulos, Minister of National Defense within the context of their unofficial visit to Greece. Minister Bagis and his spouse were hosted in a friendly atmosphere by Minister Avramopoulos who is known to have a friendship with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan dating back to past, and his spouse Vivian.

Minister Bagis also met with Turkish members of the press working in Athens and gave them information about his visit to Greece. Bagis said that he held fruitful talks in Athens and made evaluations about the current situation of Turkish-Greek relations.

Stating that a window of opportunity that would be more beneficial should be opened in terms of developing the relations between two countries despite the hard times being experienced in Greece, Bagis said that it was of vital importance for Turkey’s EU accession process, for Turkish-Greek relations and for enabling both sides to reach a solution about the Cyprus issue with courage. Expressing that he observed Greece showing good will on these issues as Turkey did, Minister Bagis indicated that “it was time to look ahead in Turkish-Greek relations”.

Stating that Turkish companies were also interested in the advantages to be arisen from the privatizations in Greece, Minister Bagis implied that as the government, they encouraged Turkish companies to make investments in Greece. Bagis reminded Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s words as “economic relations determine political relations” and stated that opportunities must be provided for more Turkish investment in Greece, for more Greek investment in Turkey and for joint projects that can be realized in third countries.