Pace of Turk-Greek contacts picks up

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Turkey isn't saying anything about a letter its ambassador to Greece delivered to the Athens government this week.

Greek officials were also mum about the message for protocol reasons, saying it is up to the Turks to disclose its contents.

Kathimerini reported Thursday there have been media reports in Turkey that the message from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou urged continued improvement in relations between the historic rivals.

The delivery was made this week by newly arrived Ambassador to Greece Mehmet Hasan Gogus to Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas. Diplomatic sources told Kathimerini the letter appears to be Erdogan's response to Papendreou's decision to hold talks with Turkish officials and visit Istanbul early in his premiership.

Kathimerini said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was in Greece this week and urged progress on the reunification of Cyprus, which has been a major stumbling block in Greek-Turkish relations.