Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras to Pay Two-Day Visit to Turkey

* Photograph: Ayhan Mehmet / AA (Archive)

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Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras will be in Turkey today (February 5) as part of his two-day official visit to the country.

Coming to Turkey upon the invitation of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Tsipras has a series of political and economic topics and issues on his agenda.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Greece Stergios Pitsiorlas will also accompany Tsipras in his visit to Turkey. It is among the targets of the two countries to double the volume of trade between Turkey and Greece, which is currently 4.2 billion US dollars (approx. 22 billion Turkish Lira).

Energy cooperation to be discussed

Apart from political issues, cooperation in energy and power will also be on the agenda of Tsipras. In addition to Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP), the extension of "TurkStream" pipeline project will also be discussed.

Ferry services between İzmir and Thessaloniki

It has been reported that the ferry services between Turkey's Aegean province of İzmir and Thessaloniki, which have not yet been put into effect, as well as railway line projects between İstanbul and Thessaloniki will also be on the agenda of Prime Minister Tsipras.

First visit to Halki Seminary

After meeting President and AKP Chair Erdoğan today, Tsipras will also meet Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, tomorrow.

As part of his visit in İstanbul, Tsipras will also go to the Halki Seminary in Heybeliada, which has been closed for the last 48 years. Tsipras will be the first Prime Minister of Greece who has ever paid a visit to the seminary.

Situation of refugees will also be discussed

Officials from both Turkey and Greece have confirmed that the regional and international issues concerning two countries will also be discussed in the meetings. It is expected that the situation of the refugees leaving Turkey for Greece will also be on the agenda of Tsipras. (PT/SD)