The opinion on Turkey's accession to the society of European states was formed in the 1850s-1860s and aimed to provide support to the Europeanizing political forces in order to prevail over the fanatical conservatives and lead the country towards Europeanization. Especially after the Crimean War, within the framework of the Ottoman Empire's Europeanization policy, the rights of the peoples of the multiethnic mosaic of the Balkans and the Middle East were often sacrificed. A characteristic example is the reference of the Greek commissioner in Constantinople in 1858, who highlighted the views of the representatives of the European powers that converged on the idea that "Turkey from now on must always have justice, otherwise the edifice of the Treaty of March 30 (1856) is not supported."

The study of the history of Greek-Turkish relations highlights the urgent need to understand the current situation between the two countries. Long-standing prejudices, diplomatic confrontations often over insignificant pretexts, and the creation of problems have defined the course of Greek-Turkish disputes, which have repeatedly escalated into armed clashes.

One of the first problems that created friction and confrontations between Turkey and Greece for many years was the issue of nationality, that is, the recognition of the citizenship of Greeks living in Turkey.