Greek border guard shot from Turkish side
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In 2020, Ankara was accused by Athens of encouraging thousands of migrants to attempt to cross the border into Greece, resulting in days of skirmishes with border guards.
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis walks next to the steel fence during a ceremony marking the signing of the extension to the country's steel fence on the border with Turkey. (AFP)
Greek police have reported that a Greek border guard was injured Saturday after being fired at from the Turkish side of the border, Greek police reported.
The border patrol "took fire from unknown persons on the Turkish side" near the town of Soufli, the report stated.
According to a police statement, the incident took place during "an operation to prevent the illegal entry of migrants from Turkey."
The guard was hospitalized with no information yet about his condition.
The Greek-Turkish border is a frequent entrance site for migrants seeking to enter Greece, a member of the European Union, especially during the summer when the Evros River's waters run low.
In 2020, Ankara was accused by Athens of encouraging thousands of migrants to attempt to cross the border into Greece, resulting in days of skirmishes with border guards.
Turkey-Greece ties enter 'new phase' governed by 'normality': Greek FM
The meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signaled a new era of relationships between the two countries, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said in May.
“I think that after yesterday's meeting, we are entering a new phase in terms of Greek-Turkish relations ... This phase is governed by a normality, as the prime minister said, productive normality,” Gerapetritis told the ERT broadcaster in an interview.
Erdogan received Mitsotakis in Ankara at the end of last week, and both leaders held a summit on Monday.
Gerapetritis further elaborated that normalcy entails the capability to address mutual concerns without exacerbating them into conflicts or crises.
"I especially want to emphasize that, at a time when hostilities in our wider region are unprecedented, I think being able to have a state of stability and peace in our own region is extremely important," he said.
"I think both sides understand that, especially today, it is of great value to be able to have greater peace in our region."
Erdogan formerly said that he intends to strengthen bilateral relations with Greece and raise them to a historically unprecedented level.
“Despite disagreements, we focus on a positive agenda by keeping our dialogue channels open,” he said in a joint press conference with the Greek premier. “Looking towards the many things that unite us, we wish to intensify our bilateral contacts in the coming period.”
For his part, Mitsotakis reiterated his country's support for Turkey’s accession into the European Union, “despite great difficulties … on the condition it integrates to the European acquis.”
