H.E. Mr. Antonis Samaras, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic and H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey met in Istanbul on 4 March 2013 within the framework of the 2nd High Level Cooperation Council meeting between Greece and Turkey. They co-chaired the session of the second meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council, with the participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs as coordinators and Ministers responsible for Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports / National Education / Youth and Sport, Justice, Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks / Family and Social Policies / Networks, Shipping, Maritime Affairs and the Aegean / Transport, Maritime and Communication, Rural Development and Food / Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Public Order and Citizen Protection / Interior, Tourism / Culture and Tourism, Health as well as Ministers of State, National Defence, EU Affairs.
On the same day, the following documents were adopted and signed by the respective Ministers, and representatives of relevant institutions:
• Joint Declaration of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey on the 2020 Summer Olympic Games (The Games of the XXXII Olympiad)
• Action Plan between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Turkey
• Cultural, Educational, Scientific, Mass Media, Youth and Sports Exchange Programme for the years 2013-2014-2015 between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey
• Protocol between the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Turkey on the establishment of an institutional framework between the Hellenic Center for European Studies (EKEM) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic and the Center for Strategic Research (SAM) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation in the Area of Humanitarian Aid
• Protocol on Sport Cooperation between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey for cooperation in the field of Agriculture
• Protocol between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the area of civil registration
• Protocol between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on the prohibition and prevention of the illicit import, export, transit and transfer of ownership of cultural property
• Protocol between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Communicable Diseases
• Protocol between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Health Services at Disasters
• Protocol between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Strengthening of Health Systems
• Protocol between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Protection
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation between the Aghia Sofia Children’s Hospital in Athens and Ankara Pediatric, Health and Diseases Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital
• Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Maritime Cooperation between the Government of the Hellenic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey
• Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of Information, Communication, Technologies and Postal Services between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey
• Protocol Between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation in the fields of Press and Information
• Joint Declaration on Enhancing Cooperation in the Field of Justice
• Declaration of Intent on Cooperation for the promotion of entrepreneurship and employment of Women through support to Women’s initiatives between the Ministry of the Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks of the Hellenic Republic and the Ministry of Family and Social Policies of the Republic of Turkey
• Joint Declaration on enhancing cooperation in the field of illegal migration and readmission
• Joint Declaration of the Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the field of Tourism
• Declaration of Intent by the Alternate Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the area of identification, protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the context of UNESCO World Heritage Convention
• Memorandum of Understanding between the National Quality Infrastructure System / Hellenic Institute of Metrology and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey National Metrology Institute
• Protocol of Cooperation between the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation Societe Anonyme (ERT SA) and the Turkish Radio Television Corporation (TRT)
The two Prime Ministers have noted that:
- Both sides remain convinced that the structured framework for their relations which is based on mutual respect, trust, international law and good neighbourly relations will further promote the relations between the two countries and open up additional areas of cooperation between Greece and Turkey.
- Citizens of the two countries will benefit from such an extended cooperation, which will enhance regional peace, stability and prosperity as well as stimulate the economic dynamism of the region.
- The two countries will examine ways to cooperate whenever possible, in international organizations and have agreed to evaluate accordingly their candidacies in international organizations in a positive manner.
- In the light of the increase in trade figures, the two countries recognized the considerable potential in economic cooperation and agreed to take necessary measures to increase bilateral trade and investments.
- The two Prime Ministers also had a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral issues, regional and international developments as well as on European affairs, including on recent developments regarding Turkey’s accession negotiations.
- Turkey’s membership to the EU has importance and relevance for both countries. Greece and Turkey look forward to this goal in accordance with the rules and principles of the EU.
- Greece and Turkey agree to further intensify their bilateral and regional co-operation in the field of energy, in particular natural gas pipelines and electricity interconnection networks.
- In order to further increase the number of Turkish tourists visiting Greece the two parties have agreed to exchange views to accelerate the visa liberalization process between Turkey and the EU.
- Greece and Turkey each face severe and complex problems emanating from the influx of illegal immigrants. They have agreed to further improve their efforts, including intensifying action inter alia on combatting illegal immigration, trafficking of human beings, organized crime and terrorism.
- Cultural heritage is another area of mutual importance and the two sides have agreed to explore ways to further cooperate in this field, within the scope of “The Cultural, Educational, Scientific, Mass Media, Youth and Sports Exchange Programme for the years 2013-2014-2015 between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey”, the “Protocol on the Prohibition and Prevention of the Illicit Import, Export, Transit and Transfer of ownership of Cultural Property” signed in Istanbul on March 4, 2013 as well as in the area of identification, protection and preservation of Cultural Heritage in the context of UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
- Conscious that international cooperation is instrumental to fight against the scourge of terrorism, they have reiterated their determination to further cooperate to this end.
- Greece and Turkey agreed to keep the momentum in the exploratory contacts.
- H.E. the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Antonis Samaras, was received by H. E. the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Abdullah Gül.
Antonis Samaras Recep Tayyip Erdogan
March 5, 2013