How to Resolve the Greek-Turkish Conundrum
摘要
In the one century that has elapsed since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, Greek-Turkish relations have been rather peaceful and even amicable for the first half (1923–1973), barring the tensions and the atrocities committed against the Greeks in Istanbul in 1955 triggered by the Cyprus question, but in escalating animosity in the second half (1973–2023). Thus, the Greek-Turkish rivalry has been on the agenda of Greece’s foreign policy for exactly fifty years now. Numerous efforts at resolving the outstanding issues have failed miserably to yield positive results. Rather the list of problems and differences has lengthened considerably since 1973 when the current phase of the Greek-Turkish dispute erupted. Most if not all of them were put on the agenda by Turkey. However, in the light of the new positive climate that has prevailed between the two countries in the wake of the devastating catastrophes, a new window of opportunity has emerged for resolving problems. This short presentation seeks to explore possibilities and define strategies for doing so either by means of bilateral negotiations or by referring matters to international justice.