The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Anders Knape has sent a letter to the Turkish and Greek authorities following the earthquake that occurred on 30 October 2020 on both sides of the Aegean Sea:

“A terrible earthquake has just hit the Izmir region in Turkey and the island of Samos in Greece, leaving many people dead and injured. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims and their families as well as my full support to the authorities in the affected towns and regions and to the relief workers who are still trying to save lives.

Today I have a special thought for our Vice-President Tunç Soyer, Mayor of Izmir and for our former Vice-President Michalis Angelopoulos, former Mayor of Samos, facing this disaster and would like to assure them that the Congress and its President are on their side.

I also extend my condolences to the heads of the Turkish and Greek delegations to the Congress.”