Turkish President Recep Erdogan told Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during talks in Ankara on Monday that there are no "insoluble problems" between their two countries, repeating the same words from his visit to Athens in December last year, reports Reuters, quoted by BNR.
"Despite disagreements, we are focusing on a positive agenda by keeping our channels of dialogue open," Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Mitsotakis.
Missotakis noted that the frequent meetings of the two leaders in recent months have "proved that we, the neighbors, can establish an approach of mutual understanding, not as an exception, but as a productive normality". According to him, their frequent meetings are a sign that the normal state of relations between Greece and Turkey is mutual understanding.
"We showed today that alongside our proven disagreements, we can draw a parallel page of agreements," he added.
During his visit to Ankara, the Greek Prime Minister made it clear that he remains adamant that "Hamas" is a terrorist organization.
"Let's agree to disagree," Mitsotakis replied diplomatically after Erdogan said he was saddened by this position of the Greek prime minister.
For the President of Turkey "Hamas" is a resistance movement. Erdogan announced that more than 1,000 members of the group were being treated in Turkish hospitals.
However, a senior Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity later, told Reuters that Erdogan was referring generally to Palestinians from the "Hamas" Gaza, not members of "Hamas".
"President Erdogan misspoke, he meant that 1,000 Gazans were being treated in Turkey, not members of "Hamas,", the unnamed Turkish official said.