Tsipras tells Davutoglu he wants to visit Turkey

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke to his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday to congratulate him on his re-election and to inform him that he is ready to take up an invitation extended earlier this year to visit Ankara for talks.

Tsipras made the call after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured an unexpectedly comfortable victory in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election, returning to single-party rule only five months after losing it.

The party won more than 49 percent of the votes, according to preliminary results, and was projected to get 317 seats in the 550-member parliament.

According to sources in Athens, Tsipras and his aides are already examining dates for a visit to Turkey, which they hope will take place in the immediate future.

Sources also said that in his conversation with Davutoglu, Tsipras stressed the need for the two countries to maintain open lines of communication. Tsipras is also said to have raised the issue of the growing refugee crisis with his Turkish counterpart.