All issues with Greece can be resolved “on an equitable basis and in a peaceful way,” Turkey’s president said Tuesday.
“Our expectation from Greece is that it doesn’t become a safe haven where FETO, PKK, DHKP-C terrorists take refuge,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Ankara.
FETO, or the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Erdogan once again reiterated Turkey’s expectations on the extradition of FETO coup plotters from Greece.
In 2018, Greece, along with Germany, were among the top European Union countries where suspected FETO members sought asylum after the defeated coup attempt, according to Turkish officials.
Stating that they had the chance to discuss bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues during the meeting, Erdogan added: “As Turkey, we desire to improve bilateral relations in every field with our neighbor Greece.”
He noted, however, that trade and economic relations between the two countries were not at a desired level.
“We hold our trade volume at a level of €3.5 billion today, but it isn’t the desired level between Turkey and Greece,” he said.
Erdogan said the pair discussed the completion of some bilateral projects, including passenger and goods ferries between Izmir and Thessaloniki, a high-speed rail link between Istanbul and Thessaloniki and the construction of a river bridge between Kipoi in Greece and Turkey’s Ipsala.
- 'Any issue can be resolved through dialogue'
“We have set it as an aim to realize the High-Level Cooperation Council’s fifth meeting as soon as possible,” Erdogan said, adding that the mentioned steps could increase the trade volume in a short period of time.
Noting that any issue could be resolved through dialogue between Turkey and friendly countries, Erdogan said: “Our cognates living in Greece and Greek-origin citizens living in Turkey are not a means for dissolution, but for cooperation.”
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/erdogan-issues-with-greece-can-be-solved-equitably/1384551