Erdoğan says Greek PM's visit aims to strengthen ties

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' upcoming visit to Türkiye presents an opportunity to enhance ties between Ankara and Athens.

"This visit is an important stage in Türkiye-Greece relations," Erdogan told a group of journalists in Istanbul on April 19.

The president said discussions during the meeting, scheduled for May 13 as per the Greek daily Kathimerini, will center on strategies to significantly improve bilateral relations.

The visit will follow a landmark meeting held last December between Erdoğan and the Greek premier, where both leaders expressed their commitment to open a "new page" in diplomatic relations.

The five-hour discussion, held on the sidelines of the first high cooperation council gathering between the two nations in seven years, marked a potential turning point in their historically strained relations.

During the meeting, Erdoğan and Mitsotakis signed a non-binding declaration of friendship and good neighborly relations. The agreement underscored the mutual intention to cultivate "a spirit of solidarity" amid shared challenges, while also reaffirming respect for each other's legal positions and endorsing the U.N. Charter as a cornerstone for maintaining peace and fostering friendly cooperation.

In remarks to journalists, Erdoğan also addressed the upcoming visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Türkiye on April 22, marking his first official trip to Türkiye in his capacity as president. The visit coincides with the centenary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"We will discuss various political, military, economic and commercial matters during our meetings with Steinmeier," Erdoğan stated, underlining the importance of...