Keeping all channels open helps build more trust, respect between Türkiye, Greece: Key Turkish official

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Although Türkiye and Greece have to deal with longstanding issues, keeping all channels open helps build more trust and respect towards each other’s sensitivities and vital interests, said Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.

“We should keep all channels open. We must talk to each other, and not to others about each other. Such a common understanding would help build more trust and respect towards each other’s sensitivities and vital interests,” Altun said in an interview with Greek daily Ta Nea.

Altun added that as long as they have “more transparency, predictability, and the sense of good neighborliness,” both countries will have enough space to solve their differences.

Stressing that nobody benefits from tension, he said Türkiye and Greece have to deal with longstanding issues and that most of them are interrelated and complex.

“However we can solve them to the benefit of future generations,” he said, adding that they both owe future generations good neighborly relations like they enjoyed during the times of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, and Eleftherios Venizelos, who served several terms as Greek prime minister around the time of Ataturk.

“The cooperation between them was a big step towards the future. We must continue with these steps. Our countries are in the same (NATO) alliance and we have much better circumstances today. And we have common challenges, too,” he added.

Emphasizing that mutual trust, efforts, sincere and constructive dialogue, and patience are required to resolve issues between the countries, he said it is important to avoid escalatory rhetoric.

“Politicians should refrain from provocative statements that attract media attention. When we look at the Greek media, we regrettably observe that there are still numerous articles and commentaries on Türkiye which do not reflect the truth and adversely affect Greek public opinion,” he said.

Public opinion is important as it constrains decision-makers, he said, noting that a constructive media attitude will be reflected positively in public opinion, which in turn will give politicians the necessary freedom to advance bilateral ties.

- High-Level Cooperation Council meets again

On the countries’ 5th High-Level Cooperation Council, he said the council will convene on Dec. 7 in Athens for the first time in seven years.

“This is a significant development considering our tense relations in recent years. Thanks to solidarity diplomacy and increased contacts, we have ushered in this new period in our relationship and we have the will to continue this positive trend. Both countries should seize this opportunity to find solutions to our longstanding issues,” he said.

He said the council is important as it demonstrates the political will to further improve relations and gives a very positive signal to the public in both countries.

Preparations are underway to make as much concrete progress as possible during the council meeting, he added.

On irregular migration, Altun said: “We believe that our common priority should be ending the loss of life in the Aegean and on the ground. Our relevant authorities are now working towards establishing efficient cooperation mechanisms.”

While these dialogue efforts are underway, provocative and counter-productive statements that benefit no one should be avoided, he added.

- ‘UN Security Council failed to do its job’

On the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Altun said that since last month, one of the greatest tragedies in recent history has been unfolding before the world’s eyes.

“We all need to do our best to de-escalate the situation to avoid a spillover. However, the UN Security Council, which is responsible for keeping the peace, has failed to do its job,” he said.

Nearly 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza are deprived of food, water, electricity, medicine, and fuel, he said, and over one million are displaced across the Gaza Strip, and non-military sites such as residential buildings, hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and places of worship are constantly being targeted by Israel.

“This has gone beyond self-defense and turned into collective punishment of a population, constituting a clear violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law,” he added.

Urging the international community to give “correct messages” to Israel, he said it is time to help de-escalate rather than provoke further military action.

“So a cease-fire is a pressing need. Providing unhindered and sufficient humanitarian aid in Gaza for civilians is also a must,” he added.

“The Palestine-Israel conflict is a matter of justice and conscience and should be above everyday politics.”

“The current crisis once again shows us that without addressing the root causes of the Palestine-Israel issue there will be no lasting peace,” he added.

A lasting peace in the Middle East is only possible through the embodiment of an independent, sovereign, and geographically contiguous state of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said, adding: “A settlement as such with a guarantee mechanism for its implementation is needed at the moment.”

Underlining that Türkiye and Greece have different perspectives not only on the war in Gaza but also on many issues, he said these differences of opinion have nevertheless not prevented the countries from initiating a new, positive phase in our bilateral relations

“No two countries, not even neighbors, can be expected to align on every matter of international concern,” he said, stressing that their common goal as neighbors and NATO allies should be preventing and avoiding crises in general, both between themselves and in our region and beyond.

Israel last month launched a massive military campaign against the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas.

It has since killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.