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Turkey's Erdogan hosts Greek PM, sees 'no unsolvable issues' in bilateral ties

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during talks in Ankara on Monday that there were no unsolvable problems between their countries.

Turkey and Greece, NATO allies and historical foes, have long been at odds over issues consisting of maritime borders, energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, flights over the Aegean Sea, and ethnically split Cyprus.

After years of stress that brought the 2 to the brink of conflict, they have begun taking prominent actions to improve ties, particularly since both leaders were re-elected in 2015.

Regardless of arguments, we concentrate on a positive agenda by keeping our dialogue channels open, Erdogan told a joint press conference with Mitsotakis.

Mitsotakis stated the leaders' regular meetings in recent months had showed that we neighbours can develop an approach of good understanding, not as an exception however as an efficient normality.

We revealed today that together with our shown disputes, we can chart a parallel page of contracts, he added.

Erdogan visited Athens last December and the 2 countries signed the Statement of Athens focused on setting the base for a roadmap to rebooting relations.

They accepted increase trade, keep interaction channels open, carry out military confidence-building measures to minimize tensions, and work on issues that have kept them apart.

The 2 leaders disagreed over how to categorize the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Erdogan restated his

view

that it is a resistance movement and stated he was saddened by the Greek view - shared by numerous other Western countries - that it is a terrorist organisation.

Let's consent to disagree, Mitsotakis

responded.

' EXTRAORDINARY HEIGHTS'

On Sunday, Mitsotakis informed Turkish daily Milliyet that his visit to Ankara - the very first in 5 years - was a chance to evaluate development and to reiterate Athens' dedication to enhancing ties.

Erdogan, speaking to Greek daily Kathimerini on Sunday, said the main goal was to raise the level of our bilateral relations to unmatched heights, adding the neighbours had many issues they might settle on while looking for services to their problems.

However, the allies remain at loggerheads over numerous concerns consisting of maritime jurisdiction.

Greece's strategy to develop a marine park in the Aegean, which it says is for environmental functions, has actually disturbed Turkey, while Athens was annoyed by Turkey's decision to turn the ancient Chora church, formerly a museum for decades, into a mosque.