The foreign ministers of neighboring Turkey and Greece are entering a new era in their once-troubled relationship following Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s ascent to power in 2009 elections.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu held a more than three-hour-long meeting with Greece’s acting foreign minister, Dimitri Droutsas, during a dinner Thursday after the international London conference on Afghanistan.

“We had a long meeting with the Greek minister and discussed the details of the letters between the two prime ministers and the steps to be taken in the upcoming period,” Davutoğlu told a group of journalists Friday. “We have similar perspectives on many issues and agreed disagreements should not harm cooperation.”

The Turkish foreign minister signaled an increase in the number of high-level visits between the two neighbors. Diplomatic sources said Droutsas would fly to Ankara in February while Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would travel to Athens in the spring.

In his letter to the Turkish prime minister last week, Papandreou invited Erdoğan to make an official visit to Greece. The Greek premier’s letter was in response to one sent by Erdoğan in November. The Turkish prime minister had earlier said that the letter promises hope for a solution to the two countries’ problems.

“I believe there will be a positive approach in our relations with Greece,” Davutoğlu said in London. Referring to his meeting with Droutsas, he added: “We both believe Turkish-Greek relations should enter a new era. The pattern in ties should change in a positive direction.”

After establishing a high-level strategic cooperation council with Iraq and Syria, Turkey will move to set up a similar mechanism with Greece. Diplomats said Athens was approaching Ankara’s proposal in a positive manner. The final details are expected to take shape during the coming high-level visits between the two countries’ officials