Türkiye, Greece seek to sustain dialogue despite longstanding disputes…reports Asian Lite News
Türkiye and Greece should maintain open dialogue and deepen cooperation as they face shared regional challenges, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.
“As two neighbors, I believe it is important to maintain open channels of dialogue based on a spirit of cooperation,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference following talks with visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Erdogan said Ankara aims to raise bilateral trade with Greece from 7 billion U.S. dollars last year to 10 billion dollars, underlining the economic pillar of the relationship.
The Turkish president said he and Mitsotakis discussed their positions on the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean “openly and sincerely,” adding that despite the complexity of disputes, they are not irresolvable under international law.
Both leaders agreed on the need to act with “historical responsibility” regarding minorities, Erdogan said, adding that he expects the Turkish minority in northeast Greece’s Western Thrace to fully benefit from religious freedoms and educational opportunities.
Mitsotakis, in his remarks, said the two sides still disagree on issues including the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones in the Aegean, suggesting international judicial mechanisms could be considered.
He said conditions were suitable for progress, adding that it was time for threats to be removed from the relationship.
Erdogan and Mitsotakis also co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council following their one-on-one meeting.
The meeting comes as the two countries seek to sustain dialogue despite longstanding disputes over maritime boundaries, migration and energy exploration.
Talks With Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Friday to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties and promote regional stability.
Al-Sudani’s media office said the leaders focused on advancing the strategic Development Road project, noting its economic and investment importance. They also explored expanding trade and cooperation across multiple sectors.
On security, the statement said the two leaders stressed the importance of continued coordination and combating the remnants of terrorism, reaffirming their commitment to dialogue, peaceful solutions, and preventing conflict escalation.
Türkiye’s Communications Directorate reported that Erdogan emphasized Ankara’s intent to strengthen ties with Iraq, particularly in trade, and said enhanced counterterrorism cooperation would benefit both countries.
The Development Road project aims to connect Iraq’s Al-Faw Grand Port in the south to Türkiye’s border and onward to Europe. It was launched after Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates signed a quadripartite memorandum of understanding in Istanbul in 2024.
Relations have improved between the two neighbors since Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad in 2024. However, tensions persist over the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq. Ankara considers the PKK a terrorist group and has conducted military operations there, which Baghdad has occasionally condemned as violations of sovereignty. Iraq officially designated the PKK as a “banned organization” in 2024.
On Wednesday, Iraq criticized comments by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan suggesting possible military action against the PKK in northern Iraq, calling them a serious affront to bilateral relations. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said Fidan’s remarks were misrepresented by some Iraqi media and taken out of context, with ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to security and counterterrorism cooperation with Baghdad. ■
