ANKARA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye and Greece have agreed to build a new bridge at the Ipsala-Kipoi border crossing on the Maritsa River that divides the two countries, the daily Milliyet reported on Monday.
The existing bridge on the border river dates back to 1958, the Turkish newspaper quoted Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu as saying.
The old bridge has been deemed insufficient to handle the heavy vehicle traffic and the increase in tourist activity, Uraloglu said.
He said the two countries had agreed to put out separate tenders for the construction of the respective side of the bridge and to form a joint inspection group that would inspect both the Greek side contractor and the Turkish side contractor during construction.
The minister's remarks came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Greece last week.
Türkiye and Greece, both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have long been at odds over their overlapping claims of airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean and Mediterranean, as well as other issues concerning minorities and illegal immigration.
The two neighboring countries recently expressed their commitment to continue dialogue and reach a common understanding. ■
