Turkey, Greece top diplomats meet to help mend ties between regional rivals

Athens and Ankara opportunity nary magical solution is reached successful their latest talks but speech will continue.

Turkey’s apical diplomat has agreed pinch his Greek counterpart successful Athens to support speech moving guardant pinch nan extremity of resolving longstanding issues that person brought nan 2 countries to nan brink of warfare successful nan past.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan embraced Greece’s George Gerapetritis aft they met connected Friday and released statements connected outstanding issues. They some expressed willingness to work connected knowing nan different broadside amended connected “critical issues”.

“We must prehend nan historical opportunity up of america and make nan affirmative ambiance betwixt our countries permanent. We should toggle shape our eternal neighbour into an eternal friend,” Fidan said astatine a associated news convention pinch Gerapetritis.

“I person nary uncertainty that we tin execute this extremity pinch a sincere and constructive approach,” he added.

Greece and Turkey each declare an area successful nan Aegean Sea reaching 11km (about 7 miles) from their coastlines. Greece says it has a correct to grow this area to 22km (14 miles) nether United Nations rules, but Turkey warns that could lead to conflict.

In nan eastbound Mediterranean, nan conflict centres connected exclusive economical zones, wherever lipid and different resources tin beryllium drilled.

No statement but positivity

Migrants and asylum seekers are besides a awesome rumor pinch nan 2 countries moving to negociate them amended together. Greece wants Turkey to clamp down much connected smugglers.

On nan Greek land of Samos, a campy made for up to 3,500 migrants and refugees is now holding much than 4,000 people, according to Christopher Wegener, a humanitarian worker pinch Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF.

“The camp’s organization has drastically accrued since summer, and correct now, we tin spot that group are sleeping moreover successful communal spaces for illustration kitchens and classrooms,” he told Al Jazeera.

Videos sent by migrants from wrong nan campy show worn-out floorboards and unsanitary bathrooms.

“Every room had a furniture for people. But correct now, location are 8 group wrong nan room, truthful we slumber connected nan ground,” Abdullah, a Samos campy resident who asked that his past sanction beryllium withheld, told Al Jazeera.

Reporting from Athens, Al Jazeera’s John Psaropoulos said location was nary statement connected nan main issues but there was a affirmative vibe and discussions complete what to see successful an exertion to nan International Court of Justice successful The Hague to arbitrate.

“Greece recognises only nan rumor of nan continental support boundary. Turkey wants territorial waters and different issues included arsenic well,” he explained.

Vehbi Baysan, adjunct professor astatine Ibn Haldun University successful Turkey, said nan issues day backmost a period but location is governmental will to resoluteness them now.

“We’re besides talking astir nan power channelling from Middle Eastern countries and past going to Greece and to Central Europe present arsenic good arsenic awesome issues for illustration migration. It seems practice is perfectly basal betwixt nan 2 countries, and now is nan correct time,” he told Al Jazeera.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies