Hulusi

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has denied allegations that irregular migrants are entering through the Turkish borders in massive numbers, stressing that political comments by the opposition that suggest an increase in the refugees are based on some footage taken in different countries and at different times.

Turkey's National Security Council on Thursday supported maintaining the positive climate in bilateral ties with Greece that emerged in the wake of the devastating earthquakes on February 6, adding that it would benefit both sides.

In a statement after convening in Ankara, the council added that ongoing developments in the Aegean and the East Mediterranean are being followed closely.

Turkey's National Security Council on Thursday supported maintaining the positive climate in bilateral ties with Greece that emerged in the wake of the massive earthquake on February 6, adding that it would benefit both sides.

In a statement after convening in Ankara, the Council added that ongoing developments in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean are being followed closely.

Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos will travel to the earthquake-stricken areas in southeast Turkey next week to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar.

About 60,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland after the Feb. 6 earthquakes devastated their homes in Türkiye, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on March 27.

"Around 60,000 Syrians living in Türkiye have returned to their own land due to the loss of their homes and relatives," Akar said speaking at a military bordar post in the southern Hatay province.

Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos has said he would not rule out a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, in the near future, an invitation for which has already been extended from the Turkish side.

Turkey wants to "share the wealth of the Aegean," its defense minister, Hulusi Akar, said at the weekend, while Ankara seeks to maintain a low tone in Greek-Turkish relations and is sending signals of cooperation to Athens. In interviews with CNN Turk TV and the Anadolu Agency, Akar referred positively to the phone conversation he had with his Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

Turkey is ready to open a channel for dialogue to solve its problems with Greece "peacefully," the country's Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, said in an interview to the Anadolu news agency Sunday.

Disputes with Greece can be peacefully resolved through dialogue, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, while expressing his optimism over the sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. 

As part of the effort to maintain open channels of communication between Greek and Turkish officials, the defense ministers of both countries, Nikos Panagiotopoulos and Hulusi Akar, spoke on the phone on Thursday, with both agreeing to develop an agenda based on good-neighborly relations and international law.