Greece keen on using post-quake 'opportunity' to mend ties with Ankara, says official

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Following a show of solidarity in the wake of massive earthquakes in southern Türkiye, Greece said Saturday that it wanted to use the "window of opportunity" to reduce tensions between the two countries.

"The reception of Greek aid and the Greek flag by Turkish society opens a window of opportunity to reduce the tension in the relations between the two people," Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis told private broadcaster Action 24.

"We want to take advantage of this window of opportunity,” he said, noting that there could be a detente in bilateral relations.

On a more cautious note, however, Miltiadis admitted that essential differences remained in the two countries' perspectives on matters of mutual concern.

Back-to-back Earthquakes shook southern Türkiye, along with other countries in the region, on Feb. 6, with the death toll rising to above 39,000, according to officials figures. Over 13 million people in Türkiye were affected by the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes.