ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan said Monday he hopes to announce new confidence building measures between Turkey and Greece during his visit to Athens, where he would meet his Greek counterpart Theodora Bakoyianni.
"There were 19 confidence building measures between (Turkey and Greece) that we have announced so far. In addition to these 19 measures, I and my Greek counterpart, at our meeting on Tuesday, plan to agree on several new measures and announce them," Babacan told reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before flying to Greece.
"My visit to Athens will play an important part to further develop political, economic and cultural relations (between the two countries)," Babacan said.
Babacan stated that he would also attend the meeting of Turkish-Greek Business Forum on Tuesday which would bring together Greek and Turkish businessmen.
"We expect acceleration in our improving business relations," he noted, saying trade volume between the two countries exceeded 2 billion USD last year.
-BABACAN'S TALKS-
During his talks in Athens, Turkish FM Babacan will meet Greek FM Theodora Bakoyianni on Tuesday. He is expected to be received by Greek President Karolos Papoulias, Greek PM Costas Karamanlis, and Parliament Speaker Dimitris Sioufas.
Later, Babacan will head to Komotini and Alexandroupolis to meet Turks in Western Thrace.