As well as the aid -- intended to "relieve the immediate suffering of inhabitants in the affected zone" -- Greek authorities are waiting for the go-ahead from Ankara to send members of its forces specialised in dealing with catastrophes, the ministry added.

A Greek army c-130 is ready to take off with the aid as well as humanitarian equipment, including tents and blankets, it said.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has telephoned his Turkish counterpart to express his condolences, the ministry added.

It added that the secretary of state for international economic relations, Andreas Loverdos, was working with the European Commission and Turkish authorities to evaluate immediate needs.

A wave of mutual solidarity swept the two countries after both suffered major earthquakes in summer 1999, which their respective governments have since built on with a policy of rapprochement despite their continued differences over the divided island of Cyprus.

SPACE.WIRE