Let’s Make Aegean "A Sea Of Peace"

Gul answered journalists’ questions yesterday in the traditional meeting and mingling meeting Kasr of Sepetciler, one of the Ottoman Era kiosks in Istanbul, hosted by the Istanbul Branch of the Kayseri Province Philantropy Association. When reminded that Greek Defense Minister Yannis Papandoniu had stated that Athens would veto Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership for as long as Turkey continued to violate Aegean air space, Gul stated: "We’re trying to make the Aegean Sea a "sea of peace". If Turkey and Greece solve their problems through dialogue, it would be good for both countries. We, Turkey, are trying to do this. Greece should also try. We should talk these issues together and solve them, but not through the newspapers. Everyone needs to help in this way. No one benefits from a crisis."

Speaking on the privately-owned Greek radio station Flash, Greek Defense Minister Yannis Papandoniu had recently stated that the government in Turkey is controlled by generals instead of by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that additional violations in the Aegean would block Turkey’s negotiations with the European Union. The Greek minister had also stated that he was afraid of moving in to a new period of tension with Turkey and that he wanted to avoid such developments, which could harm Turkey’s bid for EU admission.

The two countries had seen an improvement in relations immediately following the August 17, 1999 earthquake, a time when Greece sent teams specially trained in rescue techniques to Turkey’s hardest hit areas. However, relations are strained, due to Athens’ recent harsh statements. The wrangling began with a Greek allegation that Turkish warplanes had hassled a civilian Greek plane. Athens later asserted that Ankara was experiencing a civilian-military conflict.

During an assessment of the Iranian student protests, Gul said that his administration was following the developments and that Iran needed peace and stability. Gul also said that everyone should put their own country in order and that it would benefit Turkey’s if its neighbors were in peace.

Foreign News / Istanbul / TURKEY