ATHENS: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Greece on Friday to engage in discussions regarding the bilateral relations between Ankara and Athens, as revealed by Turkish diplomatic sources on Wednesday. This visit marks a continuation of the diplomatic engagement initiated by his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, who visited Ankara in September of the previous year.
According to Anadolu Agency, the two ministers are expected to focus on preparations for the 6th High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting, which is slated to occur in Ankara next year. Over the last two years, there has been a noticeable positive momentum in the relations between the neighboring countries. The previous HLCC meeting took place in Athens last December and was co-chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. During this meeting, the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness was adopted, resulting in 15 agreements, protocols, memorand
a of understanding, statements of intent, and joint declarations signed across various fields.
Trade relations between Turkey and Greece have also been thriving, with last year’s trade volume reaching a record $5.8 billion. There is an expectation that this figure will rise to $6 billion by the end of this year. Both countries are working towards a target trade volume of $10 billion, as set by their leaders. In line with this, efforts are being made to enhance cooperation in transportation and tourism, with relevant ministers scheduled to meet in Istanbul and Athens in November and December to discuss further collaboration in maritime and tourism sectors.
The implementation of a border visa system for Greek islands close to Turkey, launched earlier this year, exemplifies a successful win-win approach in their bilateral interactions. Ankara has reiterated the interconnected nature of the Aegean issues, urging that they be addressed collectively. Turkey consistently reminds Greece of its readiness to engage i
n discussions on these matters and expects both sides to avoid provocative rhetoric and actions, in line with the Athens Declaration.
The improved relations are also evident in the situation of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace in Greece, as well as Turkish communities in Thessaloniki, Rhodes, and Kos. Ankara expects Greece to put an end to human rights violations against the Turkish minority and diaspora in these regions.