Respect for international law precondition for solid bilateral ties, Greek PM tells Erdogan

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said that Turkish respect for international law and countries' territorial integrity is a precondition for a solid bilateral relationship between the two Aegean neighbors.

“Differences have always existed and [they exist] today,” Tsipras said during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday.

“It is important… that we express our disagreements in a constructive way, without provocations,” said Tsipras.

In an interview with Skai TV and Kathimerini newspaper on Wednesday, Erdogan suggested a revision to the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which established the borders of modern-day Turkey.

And in comments to Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos earlier Thursday, Erdogan said there were some details in the Lausanne Treaty which are not clear and that a lasting solution to issues in the Aegean and Cyprus was needed.