Turkish PM visits Greece

THRACE, Greece, May 8 (UPI) -- Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Turkish speakers in Greece Saturday, becoming the first Turkish leader to visit the country in over 50 years.

Erdogan urged the people of Thrace to preserve their heritage while contributing to Greece, the BBC reported Saturday.

Many Thracian residents have said their linguistic, religious and educational rights are being denied by Greece.

The visit followed Erdogan's talks in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis, where both leaders pledged to leave behind suspicions of the past and engage in a strategic partnership.

However, the divided island of Cyprus remains a sticking point between the two countries, the BBC said.