Turkish prime minister in 'revolutionary' visit to Greece

Helena Smith in Athens

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 13 May

Greek and Turkish flags fly at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens ahead of a visit by Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photograph: Nikolas Giakoumidis/AP

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan flies into Athens tomorrow for a "revolutionary" visit aimed at soothing the often tense ties between the historic enemies – and helping Greece out of its worst debt crisis in decades.



With the red carpet rolled out as never before for the neo-Islamist leader, the Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the landmark trip would not only improve co-operation but would "surmount the psychological threshold" that has long divided them.

Highlighting the seismic shift, the Greek government will hold an unprecedented joint cabinet meeting with Erdogan and his 10-strong entourage of ministers.

"We are trying to change the perception that the two countries are in competition with each other," said Davutoglu ahead of the two-day talks. "The visit is in a sense a revolution … we have to minimise tensions, but also maximise areas of co-operation so the notion of 'tension' is eradicated from the minds of the parties."

For most Greeks, the prospect of their longstanding eastern rival extending a helping hand, even a few years back, would have been inconceivable.

The two nations have nearly gone to war three times in the last 30 years. Deadlock over the war-divided island of Cyprus – invaded by Turkish troops in 1974 after an Athens-inspired attempt to annex it to Greece – and persistent tensions over territorial disputes in the Aegean have kept the two at loggerheads. Though Nato allies, both regularly exchange accusations over the treatment of respective ethnic minorities, the legacy of an exchange of populations in 1923.

But Turkey's change of status as a regional superpower, its membership of the G20 group of leading world economies, and its dynamic rate of growth, expected to exceed 5% this year, has made it increasingly hard to ignore.

Greek analysts say nearly eight years after Ankara went through its own banking crisis – and IMF-sponsored rescue program – the Turkish political leadership may come armed with advice for Athens.

"Business activity in Turkey has displayed impressive growth, and I think this is a very good opportunity, particularly in the economic situation Greece is going through," said Dimitris Droutsas, the country's alternate foreign minister.

The Bank of Greece, the country's largest lender, is already relying on Turkey following its purchase of Finansbank in 2006. In a further sign of mutual support, Erdogan will fly in with almost 100 top Turkish businessmen keen to invest.

Reconciliation has been reinforced by the presence of prime minister George Papandreou, whose past efforts at rapprochement, following devastating earthquakes in both nations in 1999, won him widespread appeal among Turks. Within days of assuming office last October the socialist leader made a point of visiting Turkey.

Yesterday a prominent Greek government official said the two sides would sign groundbreaking agreements to boost bilateral co-operation in areas as diverse as the economy, tourism and alternative forms of energy. The countries are also expected to agree on revamping textbooks that imbue children from an early age with the idea that as sworn enemies, the neighbours are bent on snatching territory from each other.

"This is the beginning of a step-by-step approach that will deepen our bilateral ties," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "After building mutual trust, our eventual goal is to slash expenditure on armaments."

Greece is the fourth largest importer of weapons with most being aimed at Turkey. The arms race has played a substantial role in the country's €300bn debt.

• This article was amended on 14 May 2010. The original referred to the Turkish prime minister as Recep Tayyip Ergodan. This has been corrected.

Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/13/turkey-greece-crisis-erdogan-visit

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