Turkey is a key country for Greece and the EU in general to deal with the deep problem of irregular migration to Europe, Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairides told Anadolu.
Regarding his October 23 visit to the Turkish capital and Interior Minister Ali Gerlikaya, Dimitris Kairides said the trip comes amid ongoing Greece-Turkey rapprochement and significantly increasing irregular migration flows to Europe.
He noted his cordial relationship with Yerlikaya.
"Personal relationships always help. But our work here is about more than personal relationships. It is how to serve our two peoples and peace and stability in the region,” he said.
"After a long period, it seems now that there are many convergences (between Greece and Turkey)," he said.
The improvement in relations is also reflected in the improved cooperation between the competent authorities of the two countries against irregular immigration, Kairides said.
Asked if the rest of the EU, particularly Western and Northern European countries, shares Greece's perspective on the need for better cooperation with Turkey on this issue, he said: "The truth of the matter is that Turkey bears a lot of weight in this regard . , with the Syrian refugees and others. And Europe is here to help by supporting Greece on the condition that we have cooperation."
Kairides drew attention to irregular migration as a critical problem not only for Greece, Turkey, the Balkans or Southern European countries, but for all of Europe.
It threatens stability, security and democracy in Europe, he said, noting that governments face increasing pressure from their constituents to address the issue.
In this context, according to Kairides, the treaties require a more extensive cooperation between Turkey and the EU, and Greece is promoting this line of argument within the Union.
“Turkey is a very important country in terms of migration and migration management. It is a key country. We understand that Turkey has its own needs. We are trying to find ways and a win-win formula that can be beneficial for all stakeholders,” he said.
"There are some concrete ideas that will be discussed on the way to the Thessaloniki summit between Turkey and Greece in a month and a half, when Turkish leader (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and Greek leader (Kyriakos) Mitsotakis will be able to announce a series of agreements on many foreheads," he said.
Asked about the increased frustration of the Turkish public with the increasing rate of visa rejection by European countries and its effect on the deterioration of the EU's image, Kairides said that Greece has always supported visa-free entry of Turkish citizens into the EU.
But he added that most western and northern EU countries oppose it, arguing that the number of Turkish nationals seeking asylum has increased in recent years.
When reminded that Turkey is the only EU candidate country that has not been granted visa-free entry to the Schengen zone, which is enjoyed by Western Balkan countries, Moldova and Georgia among others, Kairides said that Turkey is very large to compare with other cases.
However, he argued that the EU is working on plans that could bring visa facilitation in the short term and visa-free entry in the future if the required conditions are met by Turkey.