Erdogan pledges 'new era' in relations with Greece

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, DEC 7 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged Thursday to open a "new era" in relations with historic rival Greece, as he opened his first official visit to Athens since 2017. "I believe that the Turkey-Greece strategic cooperation meeting will lead to a new era" in relations, Erdogan told Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, adding that "we need to be optimistic, and this optimism will be fruitful in the future." In meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou during a five-hour visit, the Turkish leader is expected to discuss trade, regional issues and the perennially thorny issue of migration. Ankara has served as a migration bulwark since a 2016 deal with the European Union, which Mitsotakis and fellow EU leaders hope to update. (ANSA-AFP).