BY DAILY SABAH,
As Türkiye is embattled with the “disaster of the century,” Greece’s foreign minister arrived on Sunday in a show of support after the country was hit by devastating earthquakes seven days ago.
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias was welcomed by his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at Şakirpaşa Airport in Adana, one of 10 provinces affected by the earthquakes. His arrival marks the first visit by a European minister to Türkiye since the quake.
Speaking at a press conference with Çavuşoğlu, Dendias said Greece would continue its support to Türkiye to overcome the difficult days.
The two ministers were scheduled to travel to Hatay, where Greek rescuers are helping with search and rescue operations. Dendias will also visit members of the Greek Aid Mission in the country.
Despite a history of rivalry with Türkiye that goes back centuries, Greece was among the first European countries to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid on Monday, a few hours after the disaster.
Territorial and energy disputes have exacerbated regional rivalry. Still, the two neighbors, which lie on seismic fault lines, also have a tradition of helping each other in natural disasters. More than 28,000 people have been killed by Monday’s 7.7 magnitude tremor, with many thousands injured and millions left homeless. Tens of thousands of rescue workers are scouring flattened neighborhoods despite freezing weather, which has deepened the misery of millions in desperate need of aid. The Greek government has sent 80 tonnes of medical and first aid equipment.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, the foreign minister will also discuss ways Greece can further assist Türkiye.
