Spoke to Greek media: Erdoğan's 'Aegean Sea' message ahead of Mitsotakis' visit

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tomorrow for the fourth time within a year.

Ahead of the critical summit, Erdoğan made statements to the Greek press.

Speaking to Kathimerini, one of Greece's most widely read newspapers, Erdoğan touched upon the relations between the two countries.

"WE WILL DO OUR BEST"

Stating that cooperation and the refugee issue will be on the table during the critical meeting, Erdoğan said regarding Turkey-Greece relations, "We will do our best to ensure that peace and tranquility prevail forever on both sides of the Aegean Sea."

Erdoğan stated, "We are in favor of maintaining the political balance of the US in the relations between Turkey and Greece. We believe that approaches that maintain a distance befitting the law of alliance and encourage a constructive dialogue ground will be beneficial. Furthermore, we have direct contact with Greece without intermediaries. Maintaining and developing this will contribute more positively to our relations."

VISA-FREE TRAVEL TO GREEK ISLANDS

Touching upon the visa-on-arrival application for Greek islands, Erdoğan said, "In fact, there should be no need for all of this, and the EU should grant visa-free travel to Turkey."

"SIMILAR TO WHAT HITLER DID IN THE PAST"

Reacting to the attacks Israel has been carrying out against civilians in Palestine since October 7, Erdoğan said that what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is similar to what Hitler did.

Erdoğan stated, "Israel's bombing of hospitals, killing of children, oppression of civilians, and suppression of innocent people through hunger, thirst, and lack of medicine are similar to what Hitler did in the past. In terms of methods of genocide, Netanyahu has reached a level that would make Hitler jealous." Emphasizing that Turkey supports peace in the region, Erdoğan stressed that Hamas wants a ceasefire but Israel does not.

POSTPONED US VISIT

Speaking about his US visit, which was planned for recent weeks but was postponed, Erdoğan said, "Our US visit was postponed because the calendars of both sides were not suitable. As you know, the US is on the eve of elections and Biden's schedule has become even more intense. Our programs are busy both at home and abroad. Such visits change according to the availability of both sides. Our colleagues are continuing their talks with their counterparts, and work is underway to determine a suitable date."