President Erdogan congratulates Greek PM Mitsotakis’s birthday on phone call

Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis exchange birthday wishes and pledge to enhance relations, marking a positive turn in their diplomatic interactions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently exchanged birthday wishes during a phone call, as reported by Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. President Erdogan congratulated Prime Minister Mitsotakis on his birthday, reciprocating the gesture made by Mitsotakis 8 days prior to Erdogan’s 70th birthday.

Their interaction extends beyond birthday greetings. During the NATO Summit in Vilnius on July 12, the leaders met for the first time in 16 months. This encounter signaled a desire for improved relations, as they announced the revival of the Turkish-Greek High-Level Cooperation Council.

The council’s fifth meeting, scheduled for the fall of 2023 in Greece, will mark its return after a seven-year hiatus.

In a significant move towards reconciliation, both leaders unveiled the “Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighbourliness” during President Erdogan’s one-day visit to Greece on December 7.

However, tensions in the region persist. Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has expressed concerns over Greece’s recent actions, including the militarization of islands near Turkish shores in violation of longstanding treaties. These actions, according to Türkiye, undermine its efforts for peace and good-faith diplomacy.