An opportunity for ‘earthquake diplomacy’

The relatively limited need for foreign assistance following last week's earthquake in Turkey did not provide an opportunity for it to act as icebreaker between Athens and Ankara - given, of course, that certain parties were thus inclined.

Bilateral relations always evolve within a certain environment and last week's quake was a reminder of the devastating 7.6-Richter temblor that struck Turkey's Izmit on August 17, 1999 and the 5.9-Richter earthquake that hit Athens a few days later, on September 7, prompting a thaw and what is known as "earthquake diplomacy." It was a particularly tense time, coming three years after the Imia crisis and a few months after the row over Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan - both of which brought the two countries to the brink of war. After the two quakes, the intentions, rhetoric and in some cases even actions took a different turn.