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People's Daily, China
May 15 2010
Greek, Turkish leaders hope for new start in bilateral ties
09:59, May 15, 2010
Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister George Papandreou
welcomed Turkish Premier Recep Tayip Erdogan here Friday, with both
sides hailing the visit as "historic" and expected to open a new
chapter in bilateral ties.
"I expect this visit will have a positive outcome and strengthen the
climate of cooperation, friendship and good neighborliness that the
peoples of our countries wish for," Papoulias said.
"I have visited Greece several times. I hope that this visit will have
a different ending," replied the Turkish leader, who later held talks
with his Greek counterpart, Papandreou.
Erdogan said he was being accompanied by a delegation of approximately
320 people, including 10 ministers, more than 100 businessmen and many
journalists and he saw the visit as "extremely significant".
In the short discussion held in front of the cameras, Papandreou
agreed that it could be deemed "historic" for Greek-Turkish relations.
During his two-day visit, Erdogan also visited the Speaker of the
Greek parliament, Philippos Petsalnikos, and later in the afternoon he
will join Papandreou at the opening session of the bilateral
High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
The Council's first meeting is expected to end with the ratification
of 21 agreements of cooperation in various sectors, such as the
economy, energy, tourism, environment and culture.
Greece is facing a severe economic crisis and Turkey, which
experienced similar tough periods almost a decade ago, proposed the
creation of joint ventures in the Balkans and other countries of the
eastern Mediterranean and eastern Europe.
"Today, we can set a good example of collaboration for other Balkan
countries and the wider region," Erdogan said during a short statement
upon his arrival at Athens International Airport.
However, not everyone agrees. On Friday evening, the Armenian and
Kurdish communities in Greece, along with Greeks and Cypriots, Left
party activists and far-right groups organized demonstrations in
central Athens, protesting Erdogan's visit.
Source: Xinhua
May 15 2010
Greek, Turkish leaders hope for new start in bilateral ties
09:59, May 15, 2010
Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister George Papandreou
welcomed Turkish Premier Recep Tayip Erdogan here Friday, with both
sides hailing the visit as "historic" and expected to open a new
chapter in bilateral ties.
"I expect this visit will have a positive outcome and strengthen the
climate of cooperation, friendship and good neighborliness that the
peoples of our countries wish for," Papoulias said.
"I have visited Greece several times. I hope that this visit will have
a different ending," replied the Turkish leader, who later held talks
with his Greek counterpart, Papandreou.
Erdogan said he was being accompanied by a delegation of approximately
320 people, including 10 ministers, more than 100 businessmen and many
journalists and he saw the visit as "extremely significant".
In the short discussion held in front of the cameras, Papandreou
agreed that it could be deemed "historic" for Greek-Turkish relations.
During his two-day visit, Erdogan also visited the Speaker of the
Greek parliament, Philippos Petsalnikos, and later in the afternoon he
will join Papandreou at the opening session of the bilateral
High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
The Council's first meeting is expected to end with the ratification
of 21 agreements of cooperation in various sectors, such as the
economy, energy, tourism, environment and culture.
Greece is facing a severe economic crisis and Turkey, which
experienced similar tough periods almost a decade ago, proposed the
creation of joint ventures in the Balkans and other countries of the
eastern Mediterranean and eastern Europe.
"Today, we can set a good example of collaboration for other Balkan
countries and the wider region," Erdogan said during a short statement
upon his arrival at Athens International Airport.
However, not everyone agrees. On Friday evening, the Armenian and
Kurdish communities in Greece, along with Greeks and Cypriots, Left
party activists and far-right groups organized demonstrations in
central Athens, protesting Erdogan's visit.
Source: Xinhua