Blood pressure problem forces Turkish PM to cancel Greece visit

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Erdogan on Saturday canceled his trip to Athens, where he was scheduled to attend the opening of the new Acropolis Museum.      

"Doctors say he was fatigued and had a blood pressure problem that resulted from excessively hot weather (during his visit to the northwestern province of Edirne)," Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters.

Erdogan, nevertheless, wanted to pay his visit to the neighboring country, but the doctors recommended that he rest and convinced the prime minister to cancel the trip, Arinc added.

According to a statement released by the Greek government, Erdogan phoned his counterpart, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, to inform him he would not be able to make the trip.

"Mr. Erdogan expressed to Mr. Karamanlis his wish to visit Athens soon, so they can visit the museum together," the statement said.

Erdogan also canceled his trip to the southeastern Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, scheduled for Sunday.