Turkey could have helped Greece

The suggestion by Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Ertu?rul Kürkçü that Turkey should underwrite 1.6 billion euros of Greece?s debt in order to prevent it from defaulting to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was not the flight of fancy that some may think. 

The idea also resonated with Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, who said they were ready to help Athens, adding that Turkey would not want to see neighboring Greece weakened as a result of its economic woes. Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, for his part, announced that they would consider this recommendation if a request to this effect came.

Of course this request was highly unlikely to come. Greece may be angry with its EU partners, especially with Germany, but when it comes to Turkey, nationalist sentiments among Greeks gain added potency.

Much that is positive has nevertheless occurred in Turkish-Greek ties over the past 15 years, since the late Turkish Foreign Minister ?smail Cem ?pekçi and Yorgo Papandreou, his Greek counterpart at the time, started the reconciliation process between the two countries.

That process came on the heels of one of the worst times in ties when there was much talk of war between the two countries. What occasioned the start of this process was the earthquake disaster in Turkey in 1999, which clearly touched a chord in Greek hearts and made them the first nation to help Turks in the face of a major calamity.

This also paved the way for what came rapidly to be known as ?earthquake diplomacy? between the two countries aimed at improving ties. The Gods on Mount Olympus obviously wanted this to continue and sent a small earthquake to Athens shortly after the Turkish disaster, enabling Turks this time to respond to Greeks in kind.
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