Head of Communications Altun said, ''It is in everyone's interest to foster mutual understanding, expand trade opportunities, deepen people-to-people connections, and strive for shared prosperity between Türkiye and Greece.''
Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun responded to questions from the Greek newspaper Ta Nea about Türkiye-Greece bilateral relations.
In response to a question concerning issues that require mutual understanding between the two countries, Head of Communications Altun stated that the protection and preservation of our respective cultural heritages is an issue requiring greater cooperation and empathy and the support Türkiye gives to the return of Parthenon marbles to Greece serves as a notable example in this regard.
Pointing to the Aegean Sea as another example, Head of Communications Altun said, ''It would be useful for the Greek public opinion to understand that the Aegean is not exclusively a Greek domain; Türkiye is also sharing this sea with a long coastline having legitimate rights and vital interests.''
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that such an understanding could also contribute to the peaceful settlement of all Aegean problems in accordance with international law.
Underscoring the need to improve mutual understanding regarding the treatment of the Turkish minority living in Greece, Head of Communications Altun remarked, ''The Turkish minority seeks official recognition for their elected religious leaders and the freedom to express their ethnic identity without fear of legal or administrative repercussions—similar to the freedoms enjoyed by the Greek minority in Türkiye. I am confident that initiatives like the Greek-Turkish Media Forum can play a vital role in building stronger connections and understanding between our peoples.''
When asked, "Could the dialogue and the scene of 'calm waters' in bilateral relations be overturned by the internal pressure exerted on the governments of Greece and Türkiye?," Head of Communications Altun said that the term "internal pressure" refers to circles who derive benefits from maintaining tension between Türkiye and Greece.
Stating that he firmly believes that the ongoing dialogue and cooperation between Türkiye and Greece have the potential to neutralise these circles, Head of Communications Altun noted that the well-being of future generations depends on strengthening bilateral relations. Head of Communications Altun said, ''It is in everyone's interest to foster mutual understanding, expand trade opportunities, deepen people-to-people connections, and strive for shared prosperity. By prioritising these goals, we can ensure that those who seek to disrupt this progress remain on the sidelines, unable to derail the path toward cooperation and peace.''
When asked what Türkiye is asking to agree to the parameters set by the UN for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in Cyprus, Head of Communications Altun responded that after nearly 60 years of fruitless negotiations on a federal basis, the Turkish Cypriots have withdrawn their consent from the outdated and unviable federation model.
Head of Communications Altun stated that neither the UN nor the international community can legitimately insist on a settlement model that no longer enjoys the consent of both sides.
Head of Communications Altun said, "It is time to finally accept the reality on the ground. That reality is that there are two separate peoples and two separate states on the island of Cyprus. History has shown us, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that only a settlement on this basis can succeed. Neither the Turkish Cypriots nor Türkiye wants to waste another 60 years."
"When it comes to deepening ties with Greece, the sky is the limit as far as we are concerned"
When asked about the expectations for the 6th High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) to be held in Ankara next year, Head of Communications Altun stated that the HLCC will provide us with the opportunity to further accelerate the positive momentum in our bilateral relations.
Noting that these meetings span a broad range of subjects that involve almost every government ministry on each side, Head of Communications Altun stated that not only our leaders—who, as you know, have been coming together on a regular basis in the past two years—but also many of our ministers will be able to discuss ongoing and potential areas of cooperation with their counterparts.
To the question, "What is the bar that you would wish to reach regarding the level of improvement of Greek-Turkish relations?", Head of Communications Altun responded, "The answer is simple; there isn't one. When it comes to deepening ties with Greece, the sky is the limit as far as we are concerned."
"Türkiye and Greece are neighbours sharing the same geography"
In response to a question about the promotion of Greece-Türkiye’s joint candidacy to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Head of Communications Altun said:
"I believe that our successful joint candidacy in the OSCE for the posts of Secretary General and Director of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has made two points abundantly clear. The first is the vast potential for Turkish-Greek collaboration and cooperation in regional and international fora. The second is that such collaboration and cooperation is highly appreciated by the international community. If you think about it, this is only natural. Türkiye and Greece are neighbours sharing the same geography. We are both Mediterranean and European peoples. We are NATO allies. We have similar habits in our daily lives. Notwithstanding our unresolved differences on certain issues, there is a huge area of overlap between the challenges both countries face and our respective interests in our region and beyond. Cooperation allows us to shift the focus away from our disputes and towards our common goals. Aside from the obvious mutually beneficial aim of increasing our economic interdependence, further areas that come to mind for enhancing our cooperation are dealing with climate change, combating terrorism, countering irregular migration, increasing each country’s already vast tourism potential through the synergies that can result from joint initiatives, jointly pursuing scientific projects and research and development, and so on. It goes without saying that we can and will work together in these areas within the scope of the relevant international and regional organisations, capitalising on our recent success in the OSCE."