What are the expectations of the upcoming visit of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to
Turkey and his meeting with the Turkish President?

We are very much looking forward to this visit. It is only natural for leaders
of neighboring nations to visit each other often and talk about matters of
mutual interests and concerns. It is true that nowadays we have all kinds of
new means of informing each other, but I am a firm believer in face to face
communications. This way you can better understand the hopes and worries and
ideas of the person sitting across the table from you. And that is how we can
push forward with a positive agenda.

How would you describe the level of the current Greek-Turkish
relations and the prospects of resolving the problems according the
international law?

I know that diplomats are supposed to be optimistic in nature. But I really do
believe that we have better days to come, especially if we can break out from
our habits. There are indeed some outstanding issues between our countries. By
the same token, it would be difficult to find two neighbors anywhere in the
world that claim to have absolutely zero issues between them. The real question
is, do we have the will to address these issues with a view to solving them, or
do we prefer to keep on complaining about our neighbors.

There seems to be a belief in Athens that Turkey does not wish to refer to
international law to address problems with Greece. Nothing could be farther
from the truth. We have always said that we are ready to employ any of the
dispute solving mechanisms shown by the UN system-negotiation, arbitration,
recourse to the judiciary, etc. Does that surprise you?

Greece has no claims against Turkey, but Turkey has in relation
to the islands in the Aegean. Why?

I have been dealing with Aegean issues for a while, and sometimes I am frankly
amazed how the feelings and concerns on one side are mirrored on the other
side. So the best way to put those anxieties behind us will be to sit down and
talk, and solve what we can directly, and agree to let international law take
care of the rest.

There is a decision by the Turkish Parliament to declare war
that is casus belli, if Greece makes some decisions. Would not it be a very
good move to recall this threat?

This is a good question, and here I refer you to the point I made earlier about
mirrored concerns. The declaration of the Turkish Parliament back in the 90’s
was not made in a vacuum. It was a response to a step taken by the Greek
Parliament just a week before. So it was a reaction to what we felt was a
possible move that would greatly violate our legitimate rights and suffocate us
in the Aegean. Again-as neighbors we need to always keep the dialogue channels
open to make sure we understand, and empathize with the positions of others.
This vicious circle that we find ourselves in is probably not going to solve
anything for a long long time. The time has come for the representatives of the
peoples, the parliamentarians, to hear each other out instead of turning their
backs to each other. Indeed - both peoples simply wish to live in peace and
prosperity, and our elected members of parliament should help make that
happen.

Another thing that has impressed me is that there was a period that the overflights and violations
of the Greek airspace, and the other events every day almost in the Aegean Sea,
have been greatly reduced. Recently they have grown a lot. Why?

I would sincerely ask you to look into what is actually happening in the
Aegean. I encourage you to understand what it is that the Turkish flights mean,
and what does international law say about it. Again, it might surprise you to
hear that it is actually Turkey that suggests that adherence to international
law would help to reduce tensions.

What are the prospects for economic cooperation between the two
countries?

I noticed that you put this question all the way down near the end of the
interview. Perhaps this reflects the mood here when it comes to matters having
to do with Turkey. But there are so many areas of cooperation and collaboration
that it should be obvious. Both countries have relative strengths in the larger
region that, when put together, could generate a terrific multiplying effect.
Don’t forget that you are neighbors with one of the top 20 largest economies in
the world. There is a dynamism in Turkey that you just have to see to
understand.

I really believe that a greater level of economic interdependence could make
the problems that we talk about relatively small. After all, other nations in
Europe and elsewhere made conscious decisions to leave troubled times behind
and became partners to the great benefit of their citizens; what is stopping
us?

Greek Parliament recently ratified the Prespa Agreement, ending a long-standing
diplomatic issue. Greece opens a new chapter in its relationship with North
Macedonia. What is your opinion about this development?

We welcome the approval of the Prespa Agreement recently. This will provide a
solution to the name issue as well as other matters of interest to both
countries. And that in turn will hopefully pave the way for better relations in
our region as a whole. We need more cooperation and integration, and it is good
to see that dialogue succeeded in the end. We have always supported the
integration of the Balkan countries into European and western political and
economic structures.

International community considers necessary to launch of a new round of
talks on the solution of the Cyprus problem, according the international law
and the UN decisions. How does Ankara approach this prospect?

The Cyprus issue has been on the table now for more than half a century. It is
time to arrive at a solution that would benefit both the Turkish Cypriots and
the Greek Cypriots. Here again we have to break free from slogans and mantras.
You have to realize that everything that could be said has been said, by so
many eminent personalities throughout these years. So many different ideas,
plans, agreements, statements have been put forward; but still a just and
viable solution escapes us. The two sides on the island must therefore first
come to an honest understanding of what they really want, and how they want to
achieve that.