According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after the elections in both countries, new times could dawn for the hostile NATO states Greece and Turkey.
“We can set aside hostility and opposition. That is too much for both countries,” Erdogan told the conservative Athenian newspaper Kathimerini on Friday. “I hope that the elections in Greece and Turkey are the beginning of a new era,” Erdogan added.
Erdogan expressed confidence that he and his Islamist conservative party, the AKP, will win his country’s presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday. Parliamentary elections will be held in Greece on May 21. So far, the incumbent Conservative head of government, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is leading all polls there.
Since the devastating earthquake in Turkey in early February, the two NATO member states have made intense efforts to ease tension. Greece’s aid to Turkey had contributed to this at the time. According to the Greek General Staff, there have been no overflights of Turkish military aircraft over Greek islands since the earthquake in Turkey. Last year, Turkish planes flew over Greek territory 234 times, which is considered a serious violation of sovereign rights.
The reason for the difficult relationship is a dispute over sovereign rights and natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. In addition, Erdogan and many of his ministers questioned Greek sovereignty over dozens of Aegean islands, including Rhodes and Lesbos. Erdogan had also repeatedly threatened to invade Greek islands. The EU had repeatedly criticized him for this. (oee/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
