Erdogan calls for a new era in relations between Ankara and Athens
Published: 05:05 PM,May 13,2023 | EDITED : 09:05 PM,May 13,2023
ATHENS: A new era in relations between Greece and Türkiye maybe imminent after both nations hold elections, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We can put aside hostilities and antagonisms. This is too much for both countries,” Erdogan told Kathimerini newspaper.
“I hope that the elections in Greece and Türkiye will be the beginning of a new era,” added Erdogan.
Erdogan said he was confident that he and his Islamic conservative AKP party will win Türkiye’s presidential and parliamentary elections that are being held on Sunday.
The race is expected to be close in Türkiye, however, with polling putting the opposition marginally ahead. Greece is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 21. So far, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is leading in all the polls.
The two Nato member states have been working hard to ease tensions since Türkiye was rocked by devastating earthquakes in February. Since the quakes, there have been no more overflights of Turkish military aircraft over Greek islands, according to the Greek General Staff.
In the previous year, Turkish jets had flown over Greek territory 234 times, which is considered a serious violation of sovereign rights.
Relations between the two countries have been strained over territorial disputes and natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean.
Relatively, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will accept vote result and step down if he loses, refuting concerns that he may not leave power.
“A very ridiculous question ... We come to power through democratic means in Türkiye... If our nation decides otherwise, I will do what democracy requires, there is nothing else to do,” Erdogan said on television in reaction to the question whether he will cling to power. — dpa
“We can put aside hostilities and antagonisms. This is too much for both countries,” Erdogan told Kathimerini newspaper.
“I hope that the elections in Greece and Türkiye will be the beginning of a new era,” added Erdogan.
Erdogan said he was confident that he and his Islamic conservative AKP party will win Türkiye’s presidential and parliamentary elections that are being held on Sunday.
The race is expected to be close in Türkiye, however, with polling putting the opposition marginally ahead. Greece is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 21. So far, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is leading in all the polls.
The two Nato member states have been working hard to ease tensions since Türkiye was rocked by devastating earthquakes in February. Since the quakes, there have been no more overflights of Turkish military aircraft over Greek islands, according to the Greek General Staff.
In the previous year, Turkish jets had flown over Greek territory 234 times, which is considered a serious violation of sovereign rights.
Relations between the two countries have been strained over territorial disputes and natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean.
Relatively, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will accept vote result and step down if he loses, refuting concerns that he may not leave power.
“A very ridiculous question ... We come to power through democratic means in Türkiye... If our nation decides otherwise, I will do what democracy requires, there is nothing else to do,” Erdogan said on television in reaction to the question whether he will cling to power. — dpa