Turkish and Greek foreign ministers are to meet in Athens on Monday with the aim of defusing tensions

Turkey and Greece closer to improving bilateral relations

photo_camera PHOTO/CEM OZDEL - Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu

Gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue, among other issues, have created a series of disagreements between Turkey and Greece in recent months. The most representative occurred last April at a joint press conference between Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias, where they made their disagreements clear.

However, it seems that this situation could change according to recent statements by the authorities of both countries. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, announced on Friday his intentions to improve ties with his neighbouring country. "The only way for there to be an essential rapprochement with Ankara, which we seek and desire, is for provocations, illegal actions and aggressive rhetoric to end," Mitsotakis said.

If Ankara and Athens were to solve some of their problems, the EU's situation with Turkey would improve considerably. "Measured steps with Turkey will also accelerate European steps," the Greek prime minister stressed. Relations between Ankara and Brussels, as with Athens, are not at their best.

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The two foreign ministers will meet on Monday to set a "positive agenda" and try to put aside some of their differences. Cavusoglu confirmed his visit to Turkish state media TRT. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said he was in favour of a "peaceful resolution of the problems with Greece within the framework of international law and good neighbourly relations". Turkish and Greek military officials have also begun talks to reduce the risk of conflicts and accidents in the Aegean and other areas of the Mediterranean. The aim of this meeting, according to the Turkish minister, is to "prepare the ground" for a meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdogan.

Cavusoglu is already in Greece, visiting the region of Thrace, which is home to a Muslim minority. Despite attempts at rapprochement, this community is creating controversy as Athens considers it a "Greek" minority, while Ankara calls it "Turkish". "We urge Greece to put an end to the denial of the Turkish identity of our relatives living in the country and to implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights," the Turkish foreign ministry said during the trip. The ministry also accused Greece of "depriving the Turkish Muslim minority of their rights". However, the main bone of contention between the countries is the delimitation of their respective economic zones in the eastern Mediterranean. The migration crisis is also a problem for Greece, as Turkey has on several occasions decided to open its borders to allow the entry of illegal immigrants. 

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