The Greek-Turkish Positive Agenda meetings made ‘huge progress’, Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Fragogiannis underlined in an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu.
In an exclusive interview, Fragogiannis said Athens was keen to “find solutions to the matters covered by the positive agenda. Because we believe that in this way, we strengthen the good atmosphere and help fight any problems that may arise.”
Pointing to a recent trip to Ankara to meet his counterpart Burak Akcapar, Fragogiannis underlined that progress had been made in many fields, including the economy, commerce, energy, tourism, transportation, culture, and sports. He said that the he and the delegation “were welcomed very sincerely in Ankara by our Turkish colleagues,” for talks that focused mainly on economic matters.
The relations between Athens and Ankara have warmed significantly in the last weeks after the rapid assistance that Greece provided in the wake of the twin earthquakes that shook southern Türkiye on February 6. Likewise, Türkiye was the first country to offer condolences and aid following a deadly Feb. 28 train accident in northern Greece that left dozens dead.
Underlining that the two neighbouring countries respected and listened to each other’s perspectives on various matters, Fragogiannis said they were planning a series of joint events in sectors such as environmental protection, natural disasters, and civil protection. “Greeks and Turks will see that the agreements we have on basic issues will positively affect their daily lives,” he added. As practical examples he mentioned “the ability of the businesses to invest in each other’s country or in a third country, the development of economy and trade, tourist visits, or sea transportation.”
Referring to a ferry line between the port city of Izmir on Türkiye’s western coast and Thessaloniki in northern Greece, which came to a halt after operating for a limited time last year, Fragogiannis said this could be revived by the summer.
Fragogiannis also said that Greece wanted to host more Turkish tourists on its islands and that talks had taken place with Ankara on loosening visa measures to this end.
Pointing to similar efforts in past years, he said: “We talked to our colleagues in Ankara, with whom we work within the framework of the positive agenda, on methods that will facilitate entry (to the islands) and speed up passport control and customs procedures.”
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
