Turkish President Gül holds talks with Greek PM Samaras

ISTANBUL – Anatolia News Agency

In this photo released by the Turkish Presidency Press Office, Turkish President Abdullah Gul (R) greets Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Istanbul, on March 4, 2013. Samaras is in Istanbul to attend a Turkish-Greek Bussiness forum. AFP PHOTO/Turkish Presidency Press Office/Mehmet Demirci

Turkish President Abdullah Gül received Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras today at his residence in Tarabya in Istanbul.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and EU Minister Egemen Bağış were also present at the meeting, which lasted around half an hour.

Later, Samaras held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in an hour-long closed-door meeting at the Prime Ministry.

President Gül said on March 4 that Greek investments in Turkey reached $6.6 billion in the last 10 years, making Greece the fifth most-invested country in Turkey. A written statement was released after the meeting, which was closed to the press.

Gül said economic and trade relations between Turkey and Greece were moving forward in a gratifying way and the trade volume among the two countries reached almost $5 billion in 2012. He said the number of Turkish companies investing in Greece also increased significantly, especially on banking and maritime affairs, adding that new cooperation opportunities on energy and tourism could be considered.

Samaras said bonds among Turkish and Greek citizens increase day by day, which contributes to the cooperation between the two countries.

Samaras came to Turkey to attend a Turkey-Greece Business Forum.