Greek–Turkish relations

Greece's "calm and composed" manner has possibly averted unpleasant developments in Greek-Turkish relations, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has said.

Main opposition New Democracy on Sunday accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of undermining Greek-Turkish relations by attempting to falsify history after comments he made during an election rally in Izmir on Saturday.

Turkey's tendency to question Greek national sovereignty is the biggest problem facing Greece in its relations with its neighbor, a nationwide poll conducted by Public Issue on "Greece and the World 2018" showed this week.

A court in northwestern Turkey rejected on Wednesday the third appeal to release from pre-trial detention two Greek soldiers who were arrested on March 3 after straying into Turkish territory in bad weather, according to Turkish press reports.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on April 23 rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's offer of a "swap deal" involving two Greek soldiers jailed in Turkey in exchange for Turkish soldiers wanted by Ankara over the 2016 failed coup.

 Greece on Sunday said it considers the President's call for peace a positive step, Daily Sabahreported.

Any references to an exchange between the two Greek soldiers detained in Turkey with the eight Turkish servicemen who have sought asylum in Greece is "unacceptable," the office of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Sunday.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Friday responded sternly to a Greek court decision releasing one of eight Turkish servicemen seeking asylum in Greece, declaring that the country was becoming a "safe haven" for Turkey's enemies.

Turkey's prime minister conveyed his condolences to his Greek counterpart on April 12 over the death of a fighter pilot when the Greek jet crashed into the Aegean Sea.

A Greek fighter pilot was missing on April 12 after his Mirage 2000-5 plane came down in the Aegean Sea after allegedly intercepting Turkish jets, Greek state TV ERT said.