As Greek PM visits Turkey, Erdogan calls for peacefully resolving disputes
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signaled warming ties during the latter's visit to Turkey.
ANKARA, Turkey — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras concluded his visit to Turkey today with no deal to settle any of the disputes between the rival nations. But both he and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent unusually positive signals of their aim to improve ties.
“The president told me that we have nothing to sign today, but he added that maybe we will have the next time we meet,” Tsipras told reporters at the press conference with Erdogan. He spoke of the occasions when he has managed to de-escalate confrontations by calling Erdogan, and that Erdogan always took the call.
For his part, Erdogan said “a politician's job is not to win enemies but friends."
Erdogan said they had discussed improving transport links such as a ferry service between Izmir and Thessaloniki, and a high-speed train between Istanbul and Thessaloniki. And the two leaders agreed to meet later this year in Thessaloniki, the northern Greek town where Ataturk was born.
