Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni said on Saturday that Greeks had some concerns over Turkey's policies but that they should nevertheless trust in Turkey.
Greek FM Dora Bakoyanni and Turkish FM Abdullah Gul participated in the 4th Turkish Greek Journalists Conference which opened in Istanbul on Saturday. Speaking at the opening of the conference, Bakoyanni stated that Greece had made a strategic decision a few years ago to support Turkey's EU membership.
"The Greek people want to live in peace with the Turkish people, however, Greek public opinion has some concerns regarding the policies pursued by Turkey," remarked Bakoyanni. She said, however, that Greeks should trust in Turkey.
Also speaking at the conference's opening, Turkish FM Gul pointed out that cooperation between Turkey and Greece would have knock-on effects in the surrounding region. Gul also wished that Cyprus would become a symbol of peace and stability.
The conference, which was jointly opened today by Gul and Bakoyanni, aims to strengthen media cooperation between the two countries and to promote peaceful relations. The conference had originally been planned for November 2005 but was postponed.
Despite historical hostility between the two countries, Greece supported Turkey's EU membership bid to open EU accession talks in 2005.