In Erzurum, Papandreou will be accompanied by Erdogan, who will address the meeting of Turkey's top diplomatic corps.
The third annual Turkish ambassadors’ conference, entitled "Visionary Diplomacy: Global and Regional Order from Turkey’s Perspective", is chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and attended by Turkish diplomats serving abroad and at the country's foreign ministry. The week-long session opened in Ankara on Monday and will continue in Erzurum.
Earlier, at the working breakfast, Papandreou and Erdogan are expected to discuss matters of concern to the two countries, as well as international regional issues, with emphasis on the discussion on illegal migration and the measures Greece intends to take to fortify its borders.
Later, Papandreou is slated to address the meeting of Turkish ambassadors, which is attended by 180 envoys. The purpose of the conference is coordination of the ambassadors representing Turkey abroad, as well as an exchange of views between technocrats and the political authority.
Papandreou's presence is considered of particular significance, according to Turkish commentators.
The invitation to Papandreou is in reciprocation to the Greek premier's invitation two months earlier to Erdogan to an international ecological meeting in Athens.
The two prime ministers will also inaugurate the International University Winter Games, with the participation of university athletic teams from 75 countries.
Erzurum (ANA-MPA/A. Kourkoulas)
