The Prime Ministers of Greece, George Papandreou, and Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan, categorically declared that Greek-Turkish relations are already in a new era, while at the same time appealed for the continuation and consolidation of this new, mutually, beneficial era."We cannot build our future on the difficulties of the past, or the negative language of the past. We must leave these behind and we can work, to create a new language, so that we can build our future," the Turkish prime minister said during the two leaders' joint press conference on Friday evening, and proposed the redetermining of the way with which Greek-Turkish relations are described.
"Maybe we must change our approach, from that of neighbourliness, towards a partnership relation. We should characterise our relation in this way," he said.
Papandreou accepted his Turkish counterpart's observations and stressed that "our visionary targets, that will provide the momentum, for us, the governments of the two countries, as well as for our peoples, is for us to proceed to a different base of peace and cooperation, that will be in the benefit of all."
Erdogan said on his part that "we must avoid using terminology that can cause a problem between the two countries, because our target is to bring our peoples close, so that we can have a better future in the Mediterranean and the Aegean so that we can have a sea of peace."
Papandreou further said "we are not bound by the past. On the contrary. We are discussing the problems of the past with great sincerity," adding that this is creating an even greater obligation "for us to forge ahead systematically, because we know that basically both peoples, just like tho two governments, want, but it is also in our interest, to take the steps ahead for a radically different relation."
Papandreou went on to say that "the trust we are creating, is based precisely on the sincerity we have between us as well to face problems of the past." He referred in particular to the importance of the good personal relation that the two prime ministers have for the consolidation of Greek-Turkish relations.
Lastly, Papandreou and Erdogan announced that a Supreme Council meeting will be taking place in July. "We took the decision to meet again in July, in the framework of the Supreme Council," the Greek prime minister said.
ANA
