Lausanne Treaty Raises Tension during Erdogan’s Visit to Greece

Demonstrators march against Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit in Athens, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Demonstrators march against Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit in Athens, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
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Lausanne Treaty Raises Tension during Erdogan’s Visit to Greece

Demonstrators march against Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit in Athens, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Demonstrators march against Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit in Athens, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

On the first day of his historic visit to Greece, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan touched on contentious issues between the two countries, especially the Treaty of Lausanne, the common borders and the Cyprus file.

In a news conference with his Greek counterpart, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Erdogan said that some details of the Treaty of Lausanne, which delineated Turkey’s modern borders in 1923, were not clear.

He called for durable solutions to issues related to the Aegean Sea and Cyprus. But the Greek president insisted on excluding the idea of revising the treaty, saying: “The Treaty of Lausanne defines the territory and the sovereignty of Greece and of the European Union and this treaty is for us non-negotiable. It has no flaws, it does not need to be reviewed, or to be updated.”

Erdogan pointed out that Muslims in the western Thrace region were not able to choose their Mufti, while the Christian communities in Turkey enjoyed greater freedom when choosing their patriarchs.

The Turkish president also touched on the divided island of Cyprus. “Our aim is to find a permanent and fair solution on Cyprus, and find the same in the Aegean,” he said.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said that issues raised by Erdogan about the Treaty of Lausanne were cause for concern, adding that Greece hoped that the visit of the Turkish president would be an “opportunity to build bridges, not walls.”

Erdogan also met on Thursday with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

In remarks following the meeting, he underlined the need to base negotiations on positivity and common traits.

“Turkey and Greece should no longer see the glass as half empty but rather look at the full side,” the Turkish president said.

“We should base our negotiations on [such an understanding]. There are many common traits between our people, as long as we put aside those who have ideological obsessions… We are countries that have lived in each other’s pockets in the past. If we can establish a common discourse and wisdom, we can get rid of our problems,” he added.

In response, Tsipras highlighted the need to “focus on common ground rather than disputes between us.”



China Allows Visa-free Entry for 5 Latin American Nations to Boost Ties

FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
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China Allows Visa-free Entry for 5 Latin American Nations to Boost Ties

FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region.

Starting June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, China's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday. The trial program will be in effect for one year.

“We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, to experience the colorful and vibrant China,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing.

Beijing hosted the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Forum earlier this week, aiming at strengthening its alliances in the region as a counterweight to US influence.

China has been opening up to dozens of countries including most of the European nations, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia to boost the economy after strict pandemic travel measures. China and Uzbekistan will also begin mutual visa-free entry for up to 30 days starting June 1, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.