Seajets Donates €1m to Earthquake Victims in Turkey

Seajets founder, Marios Iliopoulos with Turkey’s former Prime Minister, Binali Yıldırım. Photo source: Seajets

Greek ferry operator Seajets is providing immediate aid to those affected by the earthquake disaster in Turkey by donating one million euros.

Marios Iliopoulos, Seajets founder and head of Strategic Planning and Development, announced his company’s donation to Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during a meeting in Ankara on Wednesday. While in Ankara, Iliopoulos also met with Turkey’s former Prime Minister, Binali Yıldırım and had a brief discussion with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan.

“Greece and Turkey, together within the framework of friendship, are capable of being the strength of the Eastern Mediterranean, with the advantage of history, inventive minds and diplomacy, given the geographical positions of the two countries,” Iliopoulos said.

Seajets’ head added that during natural disasters, “every person should come forward”, with solidarity.

“Tens of thousands of our fellow human beings lost their lives due to the powerful earthquake which struck Gaziantep, and many more today are suffering because of this catastrophe… We offer one million euros for the support of the families left homeless,” he said.

Seajets founder, Marios Iliopoulos with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan. Photo source: Seajets

Çavuşoğlu thanked Iliopoulos for the “touching and meaningful gesture” and added that the donation symbolizes “solidarity, respect, love and the humanity”, which is so essential between Greece and Turkey.

“This gesture is very important and constructive for both countries,” Çavuşoğlu said.

Iliopoulos said he hopes for a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between the Greek and Turkish people.

“Even though in the past we have had many reasons to divide us, at present there is much to unite us for a fruitful future for both nations. My family, I and Seajets placed the first founding stone on this route,” he said.