Coup plotters not welcomed in Greece: Greek PM

NEW YORK

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has reportedly assured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that anyone implicated in the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey was not welcome in his country, amid reports Athens has already rejected the asylum demands of a number of Turkish coup attempting soldiers who escaped to the neighboring country. 

The two leaders came together Sept. 21 on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit in New York, where Erdoğan requested the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported. 

Tsipras reportedly responded that three of the soldiers’ asylum applications had already been turned down by a Greek court on Sept. 21, assuring Erdoğan about the implementation of international law.

Tsipras also told Erdogan that “anyone implicated in a coup was not welcome in Greece” and reminded Erdoğan that Greece was among the first countries to publicly express their support to Turkey’s elected government, a move that was also acknowledged, Kathimerini reported.

Another core issue between the neighboring countries was the EU-Turkey deal on Ankara’s readmission of Syrian migrants who have fled to the other side of the Aegean Sea in exchange for visa-free travel for Turks.
Erdoğan and Tsipras said “they were in favor of the continuation of the implementation of a deal regarding refugees signed between the European Union and Turkey,” the newspaper said. 

Tsipras also reportedly said Greece was in favor of Turkey receiving financial aid from Europe for taking back refugees and supported visa-free travel for Turkish citizens provided Turkey complied with the 72 conditions set by the EU.

Ankara and Athens also reportedly agreed on the promotion of a railway project linking Thessaloniki and Istanbul as well as ferry services between Thessaloniki and the western Turkish city of İzmir.