By Dina Kyriakidou
ATHENS, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will discuss Cyprus and bilateral issues during a trip to Ankara that begins on Wednesday, the first official visit to Turkey by a Greek premier since 1959. The visit is seen as a positive step in relations between the two neighbours, but is not expected to produce a breakthrough on the divided Mediterranean island or the long-standing territorial and minority disputes that have hurt Turkey’s European Union accession hopes.
“The fact that he is finally going is very significant and should not be underestimated,” a European diplomat told Reuters. “Although we expect no big announcements, it is a historic visit that can only do good.”
Relations have improved since the two NATO allies nearly clashed in 1996 over a deserted Aegean island — war was averted through U.S. intervention — and working groups are clinching economic agreements as part of confidence building measures.
“Inactivity is very damaging for both countries,” a senior Greek government official who requested anonymity told Reuters. “We want to go ahead with the complete normalisation of relations and we expect the other side to respond.”
Greece, eager to bring its neighbour closer to Europe, backs Turkey’s EU accession provided it completes reforms and works to re-unite Cyprus, which is already an EU member. Turkish Cypriots voted for reunification in 2004, but Greek Cypriots opposed it.
“We have not yet fully normalised our relations with Turkey. There are issues that must be discussed,” Karamanlis told parliament on Friday.
His uncle, Constantine Karamanlis, was the last Greek premier to visit Turkey officially in 1959, though unofficial visits have taken place since.
ECONOMY DRIVES POLITICS
In November, Karamanlis inaugurated a pipeline with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on the Greek-Turkish border.
During the Jan. 23-25 visit, he will go to Ankara and to Istanbul, where he and Erdogan are expected to attend a business forum on transport links, including possible direct flights between Athens and Ankara.
“Greek economic interests in Turkey are growing fast, despite the occasional reports of dogfights over the Aegean,” said Semih Idiz, commentator for the liberal daily Milliyet.
Greek banks, long invested in the Balkans, have recently turned to Turkey, where top Greek lender National Bank bought Turkish Finansbank in 2006.
The major sources of tension remain Cyprus, minority rights in both countries and disputes over the Aegean, and flareups often take the shape of mock dogfights between fighter aircraft.
The two sides are expected to urge the United Nations to re-engage in efforts to re-unite Cyprus, divided since Turkey invaded in 1974 in response to a Greek-inspired coup in Nicosia.
Turkish officials said the two countries were taking measures to minimise the risk of embarrassing dogfights over the Aegean during the visit. (Reuters)
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