ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Athens Friday for meetings with his Greek counterpart as part of efforts to defuse tension between the two neighbors and regional rivals.
Both Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for decades over a long series of issues, including volatile maritime border disputes that have twice brought them to the brink of war. The two have been engaged in a diplomatic effort to improve ties for more than a year.
“Step by step we have reached a level of trust so that we can discuss issues with sincerity and avoid crises,” Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said in an interview with Turkish newspaper Hurriyet published on Thursday.
The meeting between the two foreign ministers follows a series of high-profile talks between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of an initiative to repair relations launched in 2023.
Officials in Athens are expected to express concerns about rising illegal migration as Greece has seen a rise in arrivals. And despite deep differences over Israel and the fighting in the Middle East, both foreign ministers are also expected to explore ways to improve regional stability.
The talks will help pave the way for a high-level cooperation council between Greece and Turkey, planned for early 2025 in Ankara, Turkey.
