Erdoğan and Mitsotakis hold press conference: 7-day visa-free travel decision

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis held a joint press conference. 

VISA WAIVER INTRODUCED

Highlights from Mitsotakis' statements are as follows: 

"We discussed the steps we will take in our previous meetings. Today's meeting is of great importance in terms of designing the future again. We have set a target to increase our bilateral trade volume, which is approaching 5 billion dollars, to 10 billion dollars, including economic units and the increase of clean trade. We have expanded cooperation in the fields of research and science, and we have achieved a very important result regarding migration. Migration movements have decreased rather than increased. Relations that have developed thanks to the cooperation of police and coast guard will progress even further in the future. We also discussed Greece's support for Turkey in its European process. Regarding the visa issue, we also discussed the issue of exempting Turkish students from visas to ensure closer cooperation between Turkish students and European students. Greece will revive the 7-day visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to enter 10 Greek islands. 

Two neighboring countries must act side by side and together. We both have to create a beautiful future as captains of a ship moving in calmer waters with a nice breeze. I want to look at the future positively."

"WE WILL MEET AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR"

Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows: 

I last visited Greece in 2017. This was the first visit from Turkey to Greece at the level of head of state after a 65-year interval. I am very pleased to be in Athens again. I would like to thank the Greek authorities, in the person of Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis, for the warm welcome shown to me and my delegation. We want to further develop the current positive momentum. The fact that we are holding the 5th meeting today is an indication of this intention. I think that we will not take such a long break for the next meeting, and that holding this meeting at least once a year will be beneficial for both countries. We had useful meetings with the President and Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis. We discussed the steps that can be taken. We emphasized the importance of keeping the dialogue channels between us open at all levels. 

CLOSURE OF THE LAVRION CAMP

We have decided to increase our trade volume, which is around 5 billion dollars, to 10 billion dollars. We want to improve our relations in both tourism and cultural fields. We also exchanged views on our attitudes regarding the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. Our Foreign Ministers will address the work on this issue decisively. I also discussed with the Prime Minister how we can improve our cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism. We welcomed the closure of the Lavrion Camp. The Turkish minority in Greece and the Greek minority in our country are the building blocks of our cultural richness. I expressed our expectation for improvements in the situation of the Western Thrace Turkish minority. 

ISRAEL'S ATTACKS

In addition to bilateral relations, I exchanged ideas with the Prime Minister on current regional and global developments. We discussed the tragedy taking place in Palestinian territories. As Turkey, we have stated from the very beginning that we do not approve of civilians being targeted in any way. The massacre of 17 thousand innocent Palestinian civilians hurts consciences. The international community should not remain silent. With the latest developments, we have seen that the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State within the 1967 borders is now inevitable. As Turkey, we have announced that we are ready to take responsibility as a guarantor for a just peace. We are two neighboring countries that share the same sea, the same geography, the same climate, and the same culture. It is quite natural for there to be differences of opinion between two neighbors. The issue is the will to resolve them. We want to make the Aegean a sea of peace and cooperation. We desire to set an example for the whole world with joint steps as Turkey and Greece. There is no problem between us that cannot be solved. As long as we focus on the big picture. Let us not be among those who cross the sea but drown in the creek."