Greece, Turkey look at mutual interests

Greece and Turkey have signed more than 20 bilateral agreements on issues ranging from tourism, energy and immigration. The Turkish Prime Minister visited Athens yesterday, taking with him 10 cabinet ministers and some 80 businessmen. He made Turkey’s intentions clear, saying: Greece, Turkey look at mutual interests “Turkey has no other goal in this process than full membership to the European Union and that I want to be well known.” On the thorny issue of Cyprus, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believed that if all parties involved worked together then there could be real results on uniting the divided island by the end off this year. One area in which debt-laden Greece is being urged by the EU to make cuts is in defence. At 2.8 percent of GDP, its military spending is proportionally the EU’s highest. Greece’s thirst for weapons comes largely from the friction that exists with Turkey. If both can become friendly neighbours, Athens will feel more reassured about making defence cuts and Ankara will have done its EU chances no harm at all.

Greece, Turkey look at mutual interests

“Turkey has no other goal in this process than full membership to the European Union and that I want to be well known.”

On the thorny issue of Cyprus, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believed that if all parties involved worked together then there could be real results on uniting the divided island by the end off this year.

One area in which debt-laden Greece is being urged by the EU to make cuts is in defence. At 2.8 percent of GDP, its military spending is proportionally the EU’s highest.

Greece’s thirst for weapons comes largely from the friction that exists with Turkey. If both can become friendly neighbours, Athens will feel more reassured about making defence cuts and Ankara will have done its EU chances no harm at all.