The Greek prime minister has met with his Turkish counterpart in eastern Turkey and is expected to discuss his country's plans to build a fence along part of their mutual border to try to stop thousands of illegal migrants from crossing into EU member Greece every month.

European Union border agency Frontex has temporarily deployed rapid intervention teams on the border to help Greece.

Private NTV television said Friday that George Papandreou and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are also expected to discuss long-standing problems.

NATO allies Greece and Turkey have improved ties over the past decade but remain at odds over war-divided Cyprus and boundaries in the Aegean Sea. The disputes have hindered Turkey's bid to join the EU.