Israeli FM says boosting relations with Turkey will increase regional stability

Boosting ties between Israel and Turkey will increase stability in the region, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on a trip to Athens on Tuesday, according to the Turkish Anadolu News Agency. 

Lapid spoke of Israel's "warming of relations" with Turkey, adding that "it is a blessed chance whose time has come".

"It also produces a great opportunity to deepen our ties and strengthen regional stability," he said.

The Israeli foreign minister met with his Greek and Cypriot counterparts during his Athens visit. Ankara has had a difficult relationship with Greece in recent years, and has no diplomatic relations with Cyprus.

Turkey is the only nation in the world to recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, formed in 1974 after Turkey invaded the island following a coup attempt by Cypriot army officers.

Lapid tweeted on Tuesday that he had "met with a true friend of Israel", referring to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

"Greece and Israel are part of an important regional strategic alliance" he added.

"We agreed to deepen and strengthen security and economic ties between our countries, and to continue to work in close cooperation."

Today, I met with FMs @NikosDendias 🇬🇷 & @IKasoulides 🇨🇾

We met in complicated times. There is a war in Europe. Once again, a large & powerful country has invaded a smaller neighbor without any justification. Once again, the ground is soaked with the blood of innocent civilians. pic.twitter.com/39KpLanhaU

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid🟠 (@yairlapid) April 5, 2022

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that a visit by Israel's President Isaac Herzog to Turkey was "a new turning point".

The Turkish leader said that the relationship between his country and Israel was crucial for stability across the region, adding that Turkey and Israel would collaborate on "energy and energy security" schemes.

The two spoke again by telephone on 1 April about their countries' ties and regional affairs.