Blinken urges Turkey, Greece to end dispute in wake of earthquake goodwill
Wrapping up his Greece visit, the top American diplomat focused on unity among allies as the Ukraine invasion's first anniversary nears.
While visiting Greece on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Athens and Ankara to ride the momentum of solidarity. The two neighbors had put their disagreements aside after twin earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria and killed more than 45,000 people.
Wrapping up his tour of Germany, Turkey and Greece, Blinken focused his messages on efforts to set up a united transatlantic bloc a few days ahead of the first anniversary of the Ukraine war's start.
“I have no doubt in my own mind that would be profoundly to the benefit of people in Greece and in [Turkey],” he told journalists during a joint presser with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.
“I think we’re reminded in this moment of what brings us together as human beings, and that ultimately is much greater than any of our differences. And that is our common humanity and the desire that people have in both countries to help each other in a time of need. And that’s a very powerful thing that’s resonating very powerfully in [Turkey].”
