Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners

Erdogan aims to improve relations with Greece

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 May 2024 08:12
3 Min Read

Despite years of border disputes and tensions between Turkey and Greece, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his intention to bolster relations with Greece.

  • x
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media during a presser following the Friday noon prayer in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 3, 2024. (AP)
    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media during a presser following the Friday noon prayer in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 3, 2024. (AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that he intends to strengthen bilateral relations with Greece and raise them to a historically unprecedented level.

He explained that the goal includes solving problems between the two counters, strengthening the friendship between them, and raising the level of bilateral relations to a historically unprecedented level.

"To this end, we, Turkey, have recently taken sincere and effective steps and intend to continue to do so," Erdogan said on Saturday in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini on the eve of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Ankara, scheduled for May 13."

On another note, Erdogan stressed that Ankara does not recognize the agreement on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction between Cyrpus and occupied Palestinian territories, which as concluded "between the Greek administration in southern Cyprus and "Israel", and rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots - the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - which are an important element of the island, were ignored." 

Related News

SDC condemns Turkish occupation of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad

Gaza must remain Palestinian, Palestinians must govern Gaza: Erdogan

The president emphasized that Turkey's stake in exploiting energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean shouldn't be overlooked.

Territorial disputes overlooked

For decades, NATO allies Greece and Turkey have been embroiled in disputes, with the threat of armed conflict looming on numerous occasions. Contentious issues include conflicting territorial claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, notably in the Aegean Sea region, the Greek-Turkish partition of Cyprus, and disagreements over maritime boundaries.

That said, Turkey has consistently accused Greece of deploying armaments on the Aegean Islands, alleging violations of the 1923 Lausanne Treaty.

During a meeting with Mitsotakis in Athens in early December 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed optimism, stating that there are no issues between Turkey and Greece that cannot be resolved. The sentiment was echoed by the Greek prime minister, who emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence between Greece and Turkey, suggesting that disagreements should not automatically escalate into tensions.

In January last year, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a news conference following controversial statements made by the Turkish leadership that Greece-Turkey relations will not see a "worst-case scenario" of armed conflict.

"No, I do not believe that we will have a 'hot episode.' I am concerned about Turkey's increased rhetoric. I urge Turkey to realize that turning foreign policy into a tool for intraparty use is not the right strategy," Mitsotakis said in Alexandroupolis, northern Greece when asked if a "worst-case scenario" in bilateral relations is possible. 

  • Turkey
  • Kyriakos Mitsotakis
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Greece

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
Al-Quds Brigades strike a command and control center north of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in an undated screengrab from the al-Quds Brigades military media

Gaza resistance announces major operations against Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Retired Israeli General Brik says Israel has reached point of no return.
Politics

Retired Israeli General Brik: 'Israel has reached point of no return'

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation
Politics

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation

Gaza’s newborns gasp for life as hospitals collapse amid Israeli war
Health

Gaza newborns gasp for life, share oxygen masks amid collapsed system

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls
Politics

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS