Greece, Turkey try to reset their relationship after years of hostility

Issues that have brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war five times in as many decades will be off the agenda during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Athens on Thursday.

The visit is an attempt to reset the relationship with positive agreements, Greek diplomats have told Al Jazeera.

“Maritime borders [and Cyprus] won’t be discussed,” said a senior Greek diplomat. “There hasn’t been any preparation for that to happen.”

Greece and Turkey have been discussing 31 potential areas of cooperation since 2021. This so-called “positive agenda” will be centre stage, foreign ministry officials told Al Jazeera, leading to about a dozen agreements.

One accord will see the construction of a new bridge over the Evros River in Thrace, which forms the border between the two countries. Another will promote student exchanges, an official said on condition of anonymity.

While undersea hydrocarbons have divided the two neighbours, other forms of energy could unite them. One accord will lead to the construction of a new electricity interconnector to trade energy.

Other agreements will promote joint initiatives in tourism, sport and among small businesses.

“There was an intensification of talks in the last three months, which shows the mutual political will for things to go well,” the official told Al Jazeera.

Some military agreements were also lined up.

“There will be a series of agreements on confidence-building measures – for example, not flying drones over warships while wargames are taking place,” Angelos Syrigos, an MP with the ruling New Democracy party, told Al Jazeera.

“The climax will be a pact of friendship declaring our intention to resolve differences peacefully,” Syrigos said.

“[Prime Minister] Kyriakos, my friend, we won’t threaten you if you don’t threaten us,” Erdogan told Kathimerini newspaper in an interview published on the eve of the visit. “Let’s strengthen the trust between our two countries. Let’s increase bilateral cooperation in all areas,” Erdogan said.

An agreement on irregular migration could also be in the offing, Greece’s migration minister recently implied – something of particular interest to the European Union.

Refugee flows from Turkey to Greece fell by 40 percent in October relative to September, and by a further 30 percent in November, the Greek migration ministry said.