Erdogan: ‘There is no problem that we cannot solve through dialogue on the basis of mutual goodwill’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an interview with the newspaper “Kathimerini” published on Wednesday, sent the message that “Greece is not our enemy but a valuable member of the alliance of which we are members. Moreover, we are neighbours, we will remain neighbours, we must mutually respect each other’s rights and vital interests. The Greek people, with whom we have lived together for centuries, know well how loving we are when we extend the hand of friendship.”  

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is due to arrive in Athens on Thursday for the Greece-Turkiye High-Level Cooperation Council and a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, referred to the full range of issues in Greek-Turkish relations and said he looks forward to “ a new page” based on the “ win-win principle”.

In his interview, he stressed that “ there is no problem that we cannot solve through dialogue on the basis of mutual goodwill,” adding that he will tell “my friend Kyriakos, that “we don’t threaten you if you don’t threaten us.” Regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement to refer the continental shelf issue to the International Court of Justice, Erdogan posited that more issues should be included in a possible appeal.

“ There are many interrelated problems that need to be solved apart from the continental shelf. When we appeal to international justice, we must not leave any problem behind,” he noted.

Turkey’s will, he said, to solve Greek-Turkish problems “ is strong,” calling for a “ similar approach” and without “ external interventions from the Greek side.”

Regarding his threatening rhetoric in the past aimed at Greece, and in particular the statement “ We may come one night suddenly,” he said that it was about “ terrorist elements that threaten the security of our country.”

Greece is not our enemy, he said, but a valuable member of the alliance of which we are members. Turkey is a country “ that has proven many times that when we say this we are not saying it just to say something,” he said, adding that “ the Western media is trying to twist my words”.

On the issue of migration, Erdogan called for the help of the EU, but also of the international community, while he also denounced the war in Gaza, stating that “ people’s fundamental rights are being violated.”