
Greece Extends Visa Program for Turkish Visitors to Aegean Islands Until 2026
This step was part of a broader effort by Greece and Turkey to improve ties after years of disputes, following a roadmap established during that time.
This step was part of a broader effort by Greece and Turkey to improve ties after years of disputes, following a roadmap established during that time.
The agreements were quickly pushed onto the agenda of the Turkish Parliament, in contrast to the usual lengthy approval processes for similar military agreements. Ankara views them as part of a broader strategy to enhance defense cooperation and address regional security threats.
The Turkish side has been refusing for 8 years to take part in a process to solve the problem - What it demands
Minister FidFidanan confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet in the Turkish capital, where the High-Level Cooperation Council session will be held. Fidan further shared that he met Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in Doha last week to discuss preparations for the meeting and review the steps moving forward.
The doctrine, which outlines Turkey’s maritime claims, has been a point of contention between the two nations
In addition, Akar criticized the United States for Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet program due to its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, and he reaffirmed Turkey's capacity and intent to produce and sell its own weapons to allied countries.
The demand is particularly high among investors from China, Turkey, Lebanon, the UK, and the US. In 2024, 7,052 applications were submitted in the first ten months, marking a 2.3% increase compared to 2023. Chinese nationals led the charge with 6,521 applications, followed by 1,115 from Turkey and 717 from Lebanon.
The meeting, led by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou and her Turkish counterpart Mehmet Kemal Bozay, marked an effort to balance persistent tensions with targeted cooperation.
As part of the event, Fragogiannis and Bozay will announce the official launch of the "Hackathon Türkiye-Greece 2024-25," a competition for young people from both countries aimed at fostering innovation, collaboration, and mutual understanding.
In an interview with the newspaper “Ta Nea,” Gerapetritis emphasizes that despite significant disagreements, maintaining open communication channels demonstrates both parties’ commitment to stability and calm in the region.
Greece’s Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, has firmly dismissed any potential obstacles to the planned electrical interconnection between Greece and Cyprus, asserting that the project is fully compliant with international law. This statement comes in response to concerns raised by Dimitris Natsios, leader of the NIKI party, during a parliamentary session.
The Turkish politician announced that when parliament opens, they will summon the Netflix representative in Turkey “and we will discuss at least how we will follow a roadmap.”
Turkey will be the first NATO member to request membership of the BRICS economic bloc spearheaded by the leaders of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, it has been reported.
This year, EU holiday packages have grown by 6.6%, Turkey by 49.5%, and Greece by 7.5%.
Mitsotakis dismisses calls to postpone Ankara visit over monastery’s conversion into mosque
Greek and Turkish officials are trying to finalize the details of the visit by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Ankara on May 13, when he will meet with the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Officials on the popular island of Rhodes have opened a new visa terminal for Turkish visitors as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions between the two cuntries.
Greek-Turkish relations, often tense, have been relatively normal since February 2023, when Greece sent rescue teams in the wake of two devastating earthquakes in eastern Turkey.
“The Greek government will persistently uphold the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the country within the framework of foreign policy principles,” it said.