FM Davutoglu in Greece

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Dimitris Avramopoulos in Athens, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu defined Greeks as honorable and hardworking people. "We are sure that Greece would overcome these difficulties. When Greece overcomes these difficulties, Turkey and Greece together would make great contributions to Europe, Mediterranean and common regions as two economically powerful countries in solidarity," Ahmet Davutoglu said. Stating that there could be difference of opinion and different approaches between the two countries, Davutoglu said that problems could be solved easily through a common vision which is aimed at boosting relations between the Turkish and Greek people and to preparing for a common future. Greece and Turkey will hold a joint summit in January, attempting to restart the confidence-building process that has effectively ground to a halt over the last two years, the foreign ministers of the two countries said yesterday. "The High Level Cooperation Council will be another step forward for Greek-Turkish relations," Avramopoulos said. Avramopoulos also noted that tourism exchanges between the two neighbors were flourishing, while Davutoglu added that two-way trade had reached $4.1 billion and that a $10 billion target was feasible. As part of his contacts, Davutoglu also met separately with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Parliament Speaker Evangelos Meimarakis. During his meeting with Meimarakis, Davutoglu indicated that he hoped the entire Aegean would become a sea to be open to all sorts of cooperation for friendship and peace.