Erdogan visit to Greece next week confirmed
The first visit to Greece by a Turkish president to Greece in 65 years was confirmed on Friday. Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Athens and Thrace on December 7-8.
Erdogan, who has been to Greece as a prime minister, will meet with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during his stay.
Athens believes that Erdogan’s visit, his first since 2010, comes at a crucial time as relations between Turkey and Germany, as well as with the USA, are going through a troubled period. The Greek government hopes that it can enhance the channels of communication with Ankara.
Regarding bilateral issues, the EU-Turkey refugee deal, Cyprus and sovereign rights in the Aegean are expected to top the agenda during talks in the Greek capital before Erdogan visits the Muslim minority in Thrace.
Closer economic cooperation will also be discussed, with road, rail and ferry links between the two countries likely to dominate this part of the discussion.