Strong words for Turkey

But Greece keen to strengthen ties through closer economic cooperation

Athens increased the pressure yesterday on Ankara to comply with European Union regulations while laying out the economic opportunities that are on offer if relations between the two countries become closer.

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, on the second day of her trip to Cyprus, criticized Turkish violations of Greek air space, which have increasingly concerned the New Democracy government.

«This sort of behavior is not consistent with Turkey's desire to be included in the European family,» the minister said when questioned about 56 violations by Turkish jets on Tuesday. «I am still optimistic that the forces which desire a democratic future for the country will prevail.»

The minister's comment came as Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, while on a visit to Turkey, urged Ankara to fulfill its obligations to the EU and help find a solution to the Cyprus problem. Finland assumes the presidency of the EU on July 1.

Bakoyannis met her Cypriot counterpart George Iacovou yesterday. Both agreed that there was new momentum on the Cyprus issue. Despite a poll which cast doubt on whether Greek Cypriots want to live alongside Turkish Cypriots, Iacovou said he was confident that all Cypriots would support «a good solution» for the nation's reunification.

Meanwhile, following the National Bank of Greece's (NBG) groundbreaking decision this week to buy 46 percent of Turkey's Finansbank, Economy and Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis met with Turkish Minister of State Kursad Tuzmen in Athens yesterday.

Alogoskoufis said NBG's move opened «new horizons» in the economic relations between the two countries. He said both sides wanted to increase trade, which would strengthen relations as well.

Tuzmen agreed and said there should be more firms from Greece and Turkey operating in each other's country.