Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a historic state visit to Greece on Thursday, December 7, presented Athens with territorial claims, criticized the treatment of Greek authorities with representatives of the Turkish minority and accused the European Union of delaying the implementation of the treaty on refugees.

"Air and sea borders could be improved," Erdogan said.. Even before leaving for Athens, the Turkish president questioned the Lausanne Treaty of 1923. Under this treaty, Greece received almost all the islands in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey. Since then, between Turkey and Greece, disputes over the exact passage of the border are continuing, writes DW.

The government in Athens reacted angrily to Erdogan's claims, stressing that his visit should contribute to "building bridges, not walls". Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos ruled out the possibility of revising the Treaty of Lausanne. "For us, this contract is not the subject of bargaining. It does not require revision or renewal, "he said during a meeting with Erdogan in Athens.

Erdogan accused the Greek authorities of the fact that they, contrary to the treaty, do not allow the Turkish minority to choose muftis, and appoint them themselves. The President of Turkey stressed that for him the protection of the rights of ethnic Turks is the highest priority. On December 8, he will visit the Turkish community in Thrace in northern Greece.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan also accused the European Union of not fulfilling promises in the economic sphere stemming from the pact on the readmission of illegal migrants concluded between the parties. The European Union has not fulfilled any of its promises in this area, while Turkey has fulfilled all its obligations, Erdogan said.. He, in particular, accused the EU of non-payment of promised financial assistance.

Meanwhile, the President of Greece Pavlopoulos called for the rapprochement of Turkey with the European Union.

However, he noted, however, that Ankara must comply with international treaties and fulfill the conditions for further rapprochement with the EU.

This is the first visit of the Turkish President to Greece in the last 65 years. Erdogan already visited Greece, however, only in the post of prime minister of Turkey. Erdogan has historically complicated relations between Turkey and Greece, despite all the difficulties, have improved. Erdogan maintains good relations with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.