Erdoğan pledges 'new era' in relations with Greece

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed to open a "new era" in relations with Greece, marking his first official Athens visit since 2017 to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The five-hour visit occurred on the sidelines of the fifth meeting of the high cooperation council between the nations, a bilateral body that last convened in 2016, symbolizing a potential turning point in the longstanding diplomatic ties between the NATO allies.

The Turkish leader reiterated his optimism about the future, stating, "There is no problem between Greece and us that cannot be solved," and announced a commitment to annual meetings with Mitsotakis to foster continued dialogue.

Emphasizing a commitment to constructive dialogue and international law, Erdoğan stated, "Improving the welfare of minorities in our countries will affect our relations in a good way."

The leaders exchanged views on Aegean and eastern Mediterranean positions, while a retinue of diplomats accompanying Erdoğan also broached with Greek counterparts the longstanding issue of territorial disputes.

Greece to grant 'visa on arrival' for islands

Territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea were not sidestepped during the discussions, with Mitsotakis favoring resolution through the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

A key focus of the leaders' talks was the visa issue, with Mitsotakis addressing the matter in his post-meeting speech. Discussions centered on visa exemptions for Turkish students, aiming to facilitate closer cooperation between Turkish and European students.

Furthermore, the Greek prime minister suggested exempting Turkish citizens from Schengen visa requirements for seven days to visit the eastern...