Greek, Turkish def. Ministers agree on maintaining bilateral contracts

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Mar 2023 00:23

During a telephone call, Greek and Turkish Defense Ministers exchanged condolences for both countries' recent losses with the Turkish earthquake and the Greek railway accident.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, center, speaks with Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, left, during a group photo at a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, June 16, 2022 (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

The Greek and Turkish defense ministers agreed to maintain communication channels between the countries to improve their relations, through a telephone call, according to the Greek Defense Ministry.

"The importance of maintaining contacts and holding meetings between the parties was stressed in order to establish stability and cooperation based on the international law and rules of good neighborliness," the statement read.

During the call, the Greek defense chief expressed his condolences to Turkey for the death of thousands in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the Turkish-Syrian borders.

He added that Athens is ready to provide Ankara with any necessary support to overcome the consequences of the disaster.

In return, the Turkish defense minister expressed condolences to his Greek counterpart regarding the numerous human casualties due to the tragic railway accident in Greece, according to the statement.

With NATO allies Greece and Turkey being at odds for decades with several risks of arising armed conflicts, the disputes may reach an end. The conflict is due to a dispute regarding competing territorial claims over a region in the Aegean Sea, the Greek-Turkish Cypus.