Turkey-Greece tensions 'over'
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, has said that long-standing tensions with neighbouring Greece are a thing of the past and their relations are now governed by a climate of friendship and trust.
Mr Gul was speaking during his first official visit to Athens.
Over the past 30 years tensions between Greece and Turkey have brought them to the brink of war on three occasions.
The Turkish foreign minister's upbeat assessment was given at the end of his first day in Athens, after he had held several hours of official talks with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou.
No formal agreements have been signed, but the two foreign ministers did push forward measures to improve economic relations.
Pipeline plan
These include plans to link the natural gas networks so gas can be piped from Turkey to Greece and on to other European countries.
There is no doubt there has been a significant improvement in relations over the past four years, ever since earthquakes in both countries sparked a wave of mutual sympathy and co-operation.
But in reality, despite the rhetoric surrounding this latest visit, there has been little progress in resolving the big outstanding issues, in particular, the division of Cyprus and the disputed boundaries in the Aegean Sea.
On Cyprus the Greek foreign minister repeated there was now an historic opportunity to unite the island as it prepares to join the European Union next year and he said Turkey could play a determining role.
On Wednesday the Turkish foreign minister is due to hold further talks with Mr Papandreou and with the Greek prime minister before returning home.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3210734.stm
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, has said that long-standing tensions with neighbouring Greece are a thing of the past and their relations are now governed by a climate of friendship and trust.
Mr Gul was speaking during his first official visit to Athens.
Over the past 30 years tensions between Greece and Turkey have brought them to the brink of war on three occasions.
The Turkish foreign minister's upbeat assessment was given at the end of his first day in Athens, after he had held several hours of official talks with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou.
No formal agreements have been signed, but the two foreign ministers did push forward measures to improve economic relations.
Pipeline plan
These include plans to link the natural gas networks so gas can be piped from Turkey to Greece and on to other European countries.
There is no doubt there has been a significant improvement in relations over the past four years, ever since earthquakes in both countries sparked a wave of mutual sympathy and co-operation.
But in reality, despite the rhetoric surrounding this latest visit, there has been little progress in resolving the big outstanding issues, in particular, the division of Cyprus and the disputed boundaries in the Aegean Sea.
On Cyprus the Greek foreign minister repeated there was now an historic opportunity to unite the island as it prepares to join the European Union next year and he said Turkey could play a determining role.
On Wednesday the Turkish foreign minister is due to hold further talks with Mr Papandreou and with the Greek prime minister before returning home.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3210734.stm
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