Erdogan visit to strengthen bilateral ties, Turkey's deputy premier says

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be the first Turkish president to visit Greece in 65 years, the country's deputy Prime Minister Hakan Cavusoglu said on Thursday, adding he expected the trip to improve bilateral ties between Athens and Ankara.

"Our president will be the first Turkish president visiting Greece in 65 years. I think this visit will yield significant results," Cavusoglu was quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency as saying.

Celal Bayar, Turkey's third president, visited Greece in 1952.

Cavusoglu said the visit, the date of which has yet to be confirmed, will take place in the coming days. He added he expected the visit to strengthen bilateral ties between the two Aegean neighbors.

He did not say whether Erdogan would travel to western Thrace, in northern Greece.

Controversial comments made by Cavusoglu during talks with members...