Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos visited the earthquake-affected areas of Turkey on Tuesday at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar.
At the National Center for the Coordination and Management of Disasters and Crises in Antakya (Antioch), Akar briefed the Greek Minister on the latest developments and the current situation. The two ministers then flew over the disaster areas in a helicopter and visited a hospital and temporary shelters for people who lost their homes in the 6 February earthquakes.
“I have observed the extent of the destruction, but I have also observed the massive efforts to rebuild the area,” Panayotopoulos said.
Some of these extreme disasters are partly due to climate change, Panagiotopoulos noted, but they also represent “a new type of security challenge that will affect us all and we will have to find ways to deal with them because, they are bound to come, they hit the countries and our peoples, and they need to be addressed, and we must work on this, maybe together.”
Speaking at a joint press conference, Akar thanked his colleague for the support provided by Greece in the very first days of the February 6 earthquakes. The Minister recalled that the Greek government was one of the first to send ambulances to the south of Turkey.
Referring to the long-standing disputes between Ankara and Athens, Akar said that the two neighbors should resolve these issues within the framework of international law and by peaceful means.
“I believe with all my heart that Turkey and Greece can solve these problems peacefully. Like our neighboring countries, our problems and our friendship are multifaceted. We want the doors of dialogue to open without waiting for another catastrophe,” Akar said.
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