Turkish FM Fidan meets Greek counterpart Gerapetritis in Athens

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in Athens on Friday, as part of a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

“Relations between Türkiye and Greece are moving in a positive direction,” Turkish FM Fidan said.

The ministers discussed preparations for the 6th High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting, scheduled to be held in Ankara next year. The previous HLCC meeting took place in Athens last December and resulted in the adoption of the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness, along with 15 agreements across various sectors.

Record trade volume and economic cooperation

Economic relations between Türkiye and Greece have shown significant improvement, with last year’s trade volume reaching a record high of $5.8 billion. Officials expect trade volume to exceed $6 billion by the end of this year.

Both countries aim to boost bilateral trade to $10 billion in the coming years.

The ministers also reviewed progress in the fields of transportation and tourism, with planned meetings in Istanbul and Athens later this year to discuss enhanced cooperation in maritime and tourism sectors.

The implementation of a border visa system for Greek islands close to Türkiye earlier this year was highlighted as a positive step in fostering closer ties.

Addressing Aegean issues and regional concerns

The longstanding Aegean issues remain a significant aspect of the discussions. Türkiye has consistently emphasized the need for dialogue and has reiterated its readiness to address these issues comprehensively.

Ankara has called on both sides to avoid provocative rhetoric and adhere to the spirit of the Athens Declaration.

The positive momentum in relations extends to the situation of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, as well as Turkish communities in Thessaloniki, Rhodes, and Kos.

Türkiye has urged Greece to address human rights concerns related to these communities, calling for an end to violations.

‘Federation model in Cyprus is not viable’

“Türkiye supports equitable sharing in Eastern Mediterranean,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, “We do not want to see war, tears and drama in our region. We want calm to be restored in the Middle East as soon as possible. The international community should continue to increase pressure on Israel.”

“It has become clear that the federation model in Cyprus is not viable,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says they will protect the rights of the Turkish minority in Greece.