Despite the tensions between the two countries, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias expressed their condolences to the Turkish people and offered any assistance to the earthquake-stricken neighboring country that counts so far 14 dead, more than 300 injured and many people still under the debris.
The Prime Minister first posted his message on Twitter, then called Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
My wholehearted sympathy to President @RTErdogan and the Turkish people following the devastating earthquake that has hit Turkey. Our search and rescue teams stand ready to assist.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) January 24, 2020
Erdogan reportedly thanked and said there was no need for help from abroad for the time being. Turkey has declared state of Emergency level 3 that means it can deal with the crisis with local own means.
The Foreign Ministry has tweeted:
We express our most sincere condolences & our solidarity to the people & gov. of #Turkey following the strong earthquake that hit the country – #Greece stands ready to help
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) January 24, 2020
In a phone conversation with his counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, FM Nikos Dendias offered every possible help to the neighboring country.
In a tweet FM Cavusoglu thanked Greece in Greek.
Ευχαριστώ εγκάρδια για την αλληλεγγύη του Υπουργού Εξωτερικών της Ελλάδος της γείτονάς μας, κ. Νίκου Δένδια, ο οποίος ευχήθηκε περαστικά τηλεφωνώντας αμέσως μετά από το σεισμό.
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) January 24, 2020
“I thank from the deep of my heart for the solidarity by Greek Foreign Minister, Mr Nikos Dendias, who called to ish us well right after the earthquake,” the Turkish foreign Minister wrote.
Greece has often sent search and rescue teams to Turkey when needed, the first time it was in the big earthquake in August 1999.
