Greek premier to visit Turkey in quest for better relations

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday in Ankara, the latest sign of warming relations between the NATO neighbours.

Diplomats said the day-long visit marks a new phase in their relations after decades of tensions, occasionally broken by brief periods of reconciliation. It follows Erdogan's trip to Greece in December.

In an interview published Sunday in the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Erdogan said talks would focus on "resolving problems" between the two neighbours.

"It falls to us to calm relations between the two countries...to ensure that peace and tranquillity reigns forever on both sides of the Aegean Sea," the Turkish leader said. He added he wished to "raise the level of bilateral relations to a new level."

In December, the regional rivals – divided over the island of Cyprus and dealing with migration through their respective waters – signed a declaration calling for "friendly and good neighbourly relations, recognising the importance of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence."

But this appeasement, also helped by solidarity after an earthquake killed more than 50,000 in southeastern Turkey in February 2023, has been undermined by Turkey converting another former Byzantine church into a mosque.

After four years of restoration, the former Kariye Orthodox church in Istanbul re-opened as a mosque on 6 May.

The 2020 decision to convert the church came after Muslim services resumed at the 6th century former Byzantine cathedral of Hagia Sophia. The landmark building has been a museum since 1935.

The changes were part of Erdogan's efforts to galvanise his more conservative and nationalist supporters.

"There's no shortage of mosques in the city. That is no way to treat cultural patrimony," Mitsotakis said a week ago, although he has also said that "channels of conversation must remain open."

Mitsotakis told Greek television station Alpha TV on Saturday that he will use Monday's talks to push Erdogan to "reverse" Kariye's conversion.

'Provocation'

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis last Monday called the move a "provocation" but reiterated that "Athens is seeking as long a period of calm as possible in Greek-Turkish relations."

Last December's meeting did lead to some breakthroughs, such as new special visas for Turks to visit Greek islands near the Turkish coast. That has led to a tripling of Turkish visitors.

And Erdogan has not repeated any of his earlier threats to invade Greek islands to prevent their supposed militarisation – threats that led the US Congress to block deliveries of F-16 fighters to Turkey.

Menendez raised concerns about Turkey's human rights records as well as blaming Ankara for fractious relations with neighboring Greece.https://t.co/LORFagHvwr

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) September 26, 2023

That veto was lifted in January, at the same time the United States approved the delivery of F-35s to Greece.

Disagreements remain over Cyprus, which, since Turkey's military intervention in 1974, has been divided into the internationally-recognised state of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey.

Turkey and Greece have also struggled to cooperate on migration. The seas around both countries are used by migrants from Asia and Africa trying to reach Europe.