Turkey, Greece agree on confidence-building

Turkish and Greek foreign ministers yesterday agreed on new confidence-building measures after two of their jet fighters collided over the Aegean Sea.

Among them are the creation of a telephone hot line between the army chiefs of the two countries and joint troop exercises - steps the two sides hope will help prevent a repeat of such flashpoint incidents between the historic enemies.

The NATO allies came close to war as recently as 1996. They have improved ties but have not resolved territorial disputes in the Aegean and over the divided island of Cyprus.

Greek Foreign Minister Doka Bakoyanni and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul unveiled the package of measures after a meeting in Istanbul during Bakoyanni's first visit to Turkey.

A new border bridge will be built and a committee established for co-operation against floods on a river dividing the two countries.

Gul said the Turkish army chief had invited his Greek counterpart to Turkey, and Turkish and Greek armies would hold joint exercises on how to deal with natural disasters.