kaya'08
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2008
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in Greece on his first visit in six years.
Mr Erdogan is travelling with a delegation of 10 ministers and about 100 businessmen.
He is due to co-chair the first joint cabinet meeting between the two countries with his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou.
Ties between Greece and Turkey have long been strained and have veered at times to outright hostility.
The two countries remain at odds over territorial rights and oil in the Aegean Sea, and how to end the division of Cyprus - divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the north of the island in response to a military coup backed by Athens.
'New era'
Before departing for Greece, Mr Erdogan described his visit as being of "historic importance".
"I believe the signing of 21 agreements and co-operation protocols will mark the beginning of a new era between the two countries," he said.
The BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Istanbul that Turkey is hoping to achieve in Greece what its already managed with its other once-estranged neighbours, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia - that is, to put aside differences and focus on areas of mutual benefit, in particular trade.
Given the state of the Greek economy, he says such opportunities may be scarce right now, but Turkish officials stress that this is also a show of solidarity with Greece.
BBC News - Turkish leader Erdogan begins Greek visit
Mr Erdogan is travelling with a delegation of 10 ministers and about 100 businessmen.
He is due to co-chair the first joint cabinet meeting between the two countries with his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou.
Ties between Greece and Turkey have long been strained and have veered at times to outright hostility.
The two countries remain at odds over territorial rights and oil in the Aegean Sea, and how to end the division of Cyprus - divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the north of the island in response to a military coup backed by Athens.
'New era'
Before departing for Greece, Mr Erdogan described his visit as being of "historic importance".
"I believe the signing of 21 agreements and co-operation protocols will mark the beginning of a new era between the two countries," he said.
The BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Istanbul that Turkey is hoping to achieve in Greece what its already managed with its other once-estranged neighbours, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia - that is, to put aside differences and focus on areas of mutual benefit, in particular trade.
Given the state of the Greek economy, he says such opportunities may be scarce right now, but Turkish officials stress that this is also a show of solidarity with Greece.
BBC News - Turkish leader Erdogan begins Greek visit