The first thing they did three Turkish intellectuals talking to “K” – two university students and one journalist – had to express their sincere gratitude to Greece. “We know,” she said. Isin Yelytsina freelance journalist who has worked with the BBC and CNN among others, “that the Greeks are our friends.”

OUR Yaprak GursoyProfessor of European Politics and Chair of Contemporary Turkish Studies at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom, says “K” that the people of Turkey noticed how quickly aid came from Greece, as well as from other countries. “This is very important,” he emphasizes, “because many thought they were surrounded by ‘enemies’.” Indeed, “just like in 1999, when Greek-Turkish relations were again in a difficult phase and after a series of earthquakes turned almost 180 degrees, so now we see that the basis of relations between the two countries and their peoples very strong,” she adds.

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“The earthquake will cause drastic changes and Turkey cannot continue as if nothing happened.”

“The help that Greece quickly sent to Turkey was especially appreciated by both university students and the Turkish press,” refers to “K” professor of international relations at Istanbul University of Culture and columnist, Mensur Akgun. The visit of the Greek Foreign Minister and the heated discussion he had with his Turkish counterpart “laid a solid foundation for future negotiations,” adds Mr. Akgun, specifying, however, that “not all disputes will be resolved, I’m not so optimistic, but there is a positive climate; perhaps the two countries will be able to discuss some problems in the Aegean, perhaps this will also affect the negotiations with Cyprus.”

According to Ms. Yelitsina, “before the earthquake, the government said the West was not good, and now it needs help,” she says. She believes that even in Greece, Turkey will not be an election campaign as a matter of national security to the extent that it was before the tragic earthquake. “Turkey and Greece show understanding for each other during the crisis, their people are getting closer,” he adds.

Mr. Akgun notes that the consequences of the earthquake, in addition to the tragic loss of life, will be enormous. “The economic consequences will be quite devastating,” he says. “On the other hand,” he continues, “the contracting sector will be strong again as there will be a need for thousands of new buildings.”

It is still very early and very difficult to predict what will happen in the coming months or even in the coming weeks, – says Ms. Dzhursoy “K”, – the sadness is now so deep that the world has not yet realized what all this is for. means it. However, “something like this would have serious political and socio-economic implications anywhere in the world,” she stresses. “Within a few years after the 1999 earthquake, our political system completely changed, so Erdogan came to power – we may not see it yet, but the earthquake will cause deep, drastic changes, I don’t think Turkey can continue, as if nothing happened,” he says.