UPDATE - Erdogan: Issues with Greece can be solved equitably

ADDS REMARKS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT; GREEK PM

By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur and Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) - All issues with Greece can be solved “on an equitable basis and in a peaceful way,” Turkey’s president said Tuesday.

“Our [Turkey’s] expectation from Greece is that it doesn’t become a safe haven where FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization], PKK, DHKP-C terrorists take refuge,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Ankara.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated a defeated coup July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Erdogan once again reiterated Turkey’s expectations on extradition of FETO coup plotters from Greece.

In 2018, Greece, along with Germany, were among the top EU countries where suspected FETO members sought asylum after the defeated coup attempt, according to Turkish officials.

Stating that they had chance to discuss bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues during the meeting, Erdogan added: “As Turkey, we desire to improve bilateral relations in every field with our neighbor Greece.”

He noted that the trade and economic relations between the two countries were not at a desired level.

“We hold our trade volume at a level of €3,5 billion today, but it isn’t the desired level between Turkey and Greece,” he said.

Erdogan said the pair discussed the completion of some bilateral projects, which are passenger, goods ferries between Izmir and Thessaloniki, a high-speed rail link between Istanbul and Thessaloniki, and construction of a river bridge between Kipoi in Greece, Turkey’s Ipsala.

- 'Any issue can be solved through dialogue'

“We have set it as an aim to realize the High-Level Cooperation Council’s fifth meeting as soon as possible,” Erdogan said, adding that the mentioned steps could increase the trade volume in a short period of time.

Noting that any issue could be solved through dialogue between Turkey and the friendly countries, Erdogan said: “Our cognates living in Greece and Greek-origin citizens living in Turkey are not a means for dissolution, but for cooperation.”

He added that Turkey showed every effort to further improve the condition of Greek-origin citizens, and expected the same gesture from Greece.

Erdogan stressed the fight against irregular migration is another issue between Turkey and Greece, and reminded that more than $35 billion were spent for nearly four million refugees living in container and tent cities in Turkey.

“We exert effort to stop deaths on the Aegean Sea. Our security forces work day and night in any case to prevent sorrow and deaths,” he added.

- Turkey-EU relations

Touching a refugee deal signed between Turkey and EU in March 2016, Erdogan said the EU did not practice visa liberalization and the immigrant agreement, and urged the bloc to be loyal to its promises.

Erdogan said the deal played a deterrent role for new migrant waves, and added: “We did and will fulfill obligations, including readmission agreement, however, we see that the EU can’t apply the agreement properly.”

The 2016 deal aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of more than 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

It also allowed for the acceleration of Turkey’s EU membership bid and visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen area.

- Sincere, special dialogue with Turkey

Greece’s Tsipras said their dialogue with Turkey is “sincere” and “special” and stressed that they managed to build a positive agenda in Turkish-Greek relations.

Tsipras stated that they decided to take further steps for the future together with Erdogan, and said Greece “will not be doomed to” regional problems and it tries to find solutions through dialogue with Turkey.

“We agreed with Turkey to boost cooperation on security issues,” he added.

Tsipras said Turkey and Greece agreed to decrease tensions in the Aegean Sea and to take confidence building steps.

“I am glad to have open communication channels with President Erdogan. We can thus take more constructive steps,” he added.

He went on to say: “We don’t have an agreement to sign today, there may be agreements for our next visit.”

Erdogan pointed that some agreements would be inked during the fifth high-level meeting that will be held in Thessaloniki, as it will be attended by entrepreneurs.