Remarkable statement by the US minister, who traveled to Greece after meeting with Erdogan after the earthquake

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has not visited Turkey for two years since he took office, came to Turkey this week due to the earthquake and held a series of meetings.

Blinken, who went to Adana at the weekend and met his counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and President Erdoğan in Ankara on Monday after conducting investigations in the earthquake area, traveled to Greece after leaving Turkey.

Blinken, who had a number of contacts in Greece, spoke to the Greek media. Speaking to Ta Nea, one of the most widely read newspapers in Greece, Blinken made extensive statements about Turkey-Greece relations and shared details of his meeting with Turkish officials.

Blinken spoke to the Greek media.

Blinken said that the main reason he came to Turkey was the earthquake disaster, saying: “It was very important for Greece to help Turkey immediately. When I spoke to my Turkish friends, they said that it is very important that many Greek citizens rush to help the region. “I think it creates a better atmosphere, but both in Greece and Turkey, it’s election time and elections always complicate things,” he said.

Stating that he expects Turkey and Greece to continue to remain calm and looks forward to reaching a solution on issues such as dialogue and diplomacy between the two countries in the coming months, Blinken said: “It is important to the US that Turkey and Greece are close allies, close associates, and close friends because we see them together. We want it,” he said. Blinken also pointed out that if both countries do not play each other, the opportunities will increase.

TOLD THE EARTHQUAKE IN ANTAKYA

When asked by Greek journalist Niki Lymberakis: “Do you think the earthquake will change Turkey’s attitude towards the West?” Blinken gave a clear answer.

“I think this disaster is a powerful reminder that we are all human and that being together instead of apart makes you stronger. Of course, sometimes there are problems, and I am not saying that these problems are solved overnight, but in time everything will be fine, ”he said.

Blinken spoke about the earthquake that took place in Antakya the day before. Blinken said: “Turkey is completely focused on healing the wounds of the earthquake. Yesterday there was another aftershock. People are scared. The earthquake survivors were scared. “People are afraid to go to their houses even if their houses are not demolished,” he said.

Erdogan and Blinken met yesterday in Ankara.

To the Greek journalist’s question, “How to equalize the distance between a threatening country and a threatened country?”, he replied: “Of course, we always understand Greece’s security concerns. We take this very, very seriously, but we believe that both parties can develop in good faith and provide a solution.” Blinken also said that he discussed this issue with the Turkish authorities.

Blinken said that in addition to the sale of F-16s to Turkey, they also support the modernization of Greece’s F-16s and the purchase of the F-35.

GREEK JOURNALIST SIGNS NAMELESS TURKEY

In response to Lymberakis’s question, “Well, what happens if a NATO member country attacks another NATO member country,” pointing to Turkey without giving a name, he said: “Of course, I will not answer such hypothetical questions. “. But what I can say is to support all our friends in trying to solve problems peacefully through diplomacy. We want the parties not to make provocative moves and statements,” he said.

At Blinken’s question, the Greek journalist asked: “Are you saying that Turkey’s statements and statements about the invasion are just rhetoric?” Blinken said: “We have told all our friends about this issue and we do not support their threatening statements and moves. On the contrary, we are against it, ”he said.