The crisis in the Middle East could have a positive effect on Greek-Turkish relations, noted Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou on Tuesday, speaking at the ‘Ellada Meta VII’ (Greece Meta VII) conference held in Athens by the ‘Kyklos Ideon’ (Circle of Ideas) think tank under the thematic title ‘Asymmetries & National Agenda’.
In contrast to some media reports that claim quite the opposite, she added, “Greece and Türkiye have a common interest, this being that they cannot live in a region that is explosive.” This, she added, stands “regardless of the different approaches, the different goals, the different worldviews they may have.”
With this explosive situation in the Middle East “concerning both of us, we both have every interest in this crisis not acquiring any broader dimensions.”
The Greek-Turkish dialogue, she underlined, is a specific process in and of itself, one which does not bear fruit immediately. The upcoming Greece-Türkiye Supreme Cooperation Council (scheduled for December 7 in Thessaloniki) is “a positive event where the two governments will discuss, together, issues of common interest and common challenges – such as the migration issue”, she pointed out.
Natural disasters and climate change is another pressing matter that should be dealt with jointly by the two countries, she also asserted.
