Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. In the aftermath of the deadly and destructive earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, Greece continues to express its support and solidarity for those affected. When faced with a disaster of this magnitude, differences can only be put aside.
Greece immediately mobilized members of the EMAK Special Disaster Response Team to assist with rescue efforts and has dispatched over 90 tons of humanitarian relief to the stricken areas, including blankets, tents, and medicinal equipment.
The earthquake, and Greece’s response, has led to a visible thaw in relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis immediately reached out to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to convey the condolences of the Greek people and to offer assistance.
This is an obvious far cry from Erdogan’s previous statements that he would never speak to the Greek prime minister again.
This is a recurring theme across the governmental hierarchy of the two countries as the lines of communication opened almost immediately, with several Greek ministers holding calls with their Turkish counterparts.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias also travelled to the stricken areas to meet with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. The two men embraced at the airport, with Cavusoglu noting that Greece was one of the first countries to offer aid.
The two men pointed out that good neighborly relations can be seen when disasters strike, but emphasized that we should not wait for them to happen to seek common ground.
Several Turkish officials have also publicly thanked Greece, including chief foreign policy advisor Ibrahim Kalin, something which seemed inconceivable just a week ago.
International media have been quick to announce the revival of “Earthquake Diplomacy”, referring to the diplomatic détente that followed the 1999 earthquakes in Greece and Turkey.
It is evident that tensions with Turkey have eased in the earthquake’s aftermath, with both Turkish and international media recognizing the efforts made by Greece to provide assistance to Turkish rescuers.
However, this may yet prove to be a premature conclusion in the long-term; particularly when factoring in the Turkish presidential elections in May.
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