The Russian proverb says that there is no bad without good, and it is possible that something similar is now being observed in Turkey’s bilateral relations with its complicated neighbors against the backdrop of the earthquake that occurred there.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the earthquake in Turkey could be an opportunity for countries to resume bilateral relations. It is worth noting that despite the recent escalation in relations between the two countries, Greece extended a helping hand to Turkey in its time of need, including sending its rescuers to the disaster zone. According to Mitsotakis, this was a purely humanitarian gesture, but it is in Greece’s national interest to help Turkey recover quickly and initiate mutually beneficial cooperation. It is significant that in Turkey this news was presented in a positive light on the pro-government website Yeni Şafak, which is usually hostile to Greece and its prime minister. This is something they themselves have given reasons for in the past, as we have written about.
Meanwhile, such a resumption of bilateral relations may not only be an act of benevolence in the face of great human suffering, but also a question of survival for both countries. Greek professors Konstantinos Sinolakis and Kostas Papazakos, based on their study of the seismic situation in the region, stated that Greece may soon face a disaster no less significant than that of Turkey. In turn, according to many seismologists, Istanbul may also experience a similarly significant earthquake in the coming years, which, given its population density, could cause even greater casualties than the recent earthquake that claimed the lives of nearly forty thousand people.
Thus, the region seems to be facing a challenge that will force nations with geopolitical conflicts to at least put them aside and strive for cooperation. The recent visit of Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to Turkey, where he met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, may also facilitate this. The Turkish minister thanked Mr. Mirzoyan for his visit and for the humanitarian aid that Armenia sent to Turkey at a difficult time, saying that he considered it important. The Armenian minister, in turn, expressed his desire to normalize relations with both Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Well, time will tell how sustainable these peace-keeping tendencies will prove to be.