GREECE said yesterday that a European Union resolution calling on Mediterranean states to respect democracy and promote good neighbourliness could become the basis for improved Greek Turkish relations.
But the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr Theodoros Pangalos, said the so called Meda plan would progress only if Turkey agreed to the resolution during a visit to Dublin later this week by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ms Tansu filler.
Athens agreed this week to lift its veto of the EU's ambitious trade and investment plan for the Mediterranean in exchange for the resolution adopted by EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
At stake is the allocation of a further 1.3 billion Ecus (£1 billion) of a total 4.7 billion Ecu package that seeks to create a Mediterranean free trade zone.
However, Mr Pangalos warned that there was a long way to go before funds for the Meda agreement would be earmarked and added. "Decisions made today can be changed."
In Ankara, Turkey called on the European Union to ensure that Athens unconditionally lifted its veto. "Turkey does abide by international law," a foreign ministry official said.
Meanwhile, yesterday in Ankara eight dissident MPs resigned from the junior coalition partner, Ms filler's True Path Party (DYP), in protest at its alliance with the Islamic Welfare Party. The resignations leave the coalition with an effective majority of only four in the 550 seat assembly.