Greek–Turkish earthquake diplomacy

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he views his upcoming meeting on May 13 with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "an important stage" in exploring how the relationship between Greece and Turkey can be improved.

Officials on the Greek island of Rhodes opened a new vacation visa terminal for Turkish visitors Monday as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions between the two countries.

Turkish and Greek diplomats met in Ankara on March 11 for consultations within the framework of ongoing political dialogue meetings between the two countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akçapar led the Turkish delegation, while his Greek counterpart, Alexandra Papadopoulou, headed the Greek team.

Last year started with Athens and Ankara relations probably at the lowest ebb in years, but Turkey's deadly earthquakes that struck weeks later and Greece's response to the tragedy created a new backdrop for bilateral relations.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced Greece's participation with a Hellenic Navy frigate in the multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian, for the protection of merchant ships, the lives of seafarers and the global economy.

The Athens meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, anticipated with cautious optimism by Greek media, has for the most part also made a positive impression on their Turkish counterparts.

Greece and Turkey agreed on Thursday to mend their ties by promoting good neighborly relations, keeping communication channels open and focusing on low-level issues, such as culture and economy.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Athens on Thursday with a delegation of ministers for meetings with Greek counterparts that both countries hope can turn a new page in relations after years of friction.

Dimitris Kairidis, the Greek minister for migration, said late Tuesday that the number of migrants arriving on Greece's islands illegally had dropped by about 60% over the past two months thanks in large part to better coordination with Turkey's coast guard.

A wide range of so-called "low diplomacy" issues will be revised on Thursday when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travels to Athens, accompanied by a number of Turkish government ministers.