ISTANBUL
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday that his two-day official visit to Greece will allow Turkey and Greece to discuss their economic and political relations.
"We will also discuss the joint steps to be taken within the context of Cyprus and the Aegean Sea," he told a press conference at Istanbul Ataturk International Airport on Friday afternoon, before departing for the Greek capital Athens.
Turkey and Greece are the guarantor countries for the disputed Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots are trying to find a way to settle their decades-long conflict.
"As two neighbors, we will continue to exert efforts to make the Aegean Sea a sea of peace," Davutoglu added.
Negotiations between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration had resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013. However, the Greek Cypriot administration suspended the talks over the divided island on Oct. 7 after Turkey sent a ship to monitor an oil-and-gas exploration mission off the coast of Cyprus.
Both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have called for a fair division of such resources between both sides.
Together with his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras, the Turkish premier will also co-chair the third Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council summit scheduled for Dec. 5-6 in Athens.
Davutoglu stressed that Turkey is an open country and has a rising economy, and would like to boost its collaboration with Greece in tourism.
"Tourism cooperation between Greece and Turkey is of vital importance," he said.
The Turkish premier is to meet Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
He will also hold talks with Turkish-origin Greek citizens and representatives of the Turkish minority in Greece.
Davutoglu and Samaras are also scheduled to deliver a speech at the closing of the Turkish-Greek Business Forum and attend a dinner that the Greek premier will host in his Turkish counterpart's honor.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkir, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, Customs and Trade Minister Nurettin Canikli, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Lutfi Elvan, Interior Minister Efkan Ala, and Culture and Tourism Minister Omer Celik will also accompany Davutoglu during his visit to Athens.
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