Two Greek soldiers freed after months in a Turkish prison flew back to their home country on August 14 government after their unexpected release eased tensions between the neighbors and historical rivals.

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said he phoned his Turkish counterpart to express his satisfaction with the soldiers' release and invite him to visit Greece.

"I hope that their release ... will herald a new day in Greek-Turkish relations," Kammenos told reporters. "We can live together peacefully, for the benefit of both our peoples."The soldiers, an army junior officer and a sergeant, were met by Kammenos, the army chief of staff and an honor guard after their arrival before dawn at the airport in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

"All I want to say is thank you," 2nd Lieutenant Angelos Mitretodis told reporters.

The men were arrested on March 1 for illegally entering Turkey after crossing the heavily militarized land border. Greece strongly protested their long detention in the western town of Edirne, arguing that they had strayed across during a patrol amid poor visibility due to bad weather.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed their release as "an act of justice," and provided the jet he uses on official foreign journeys to bring them back.

"(Their release) will contribute to strengthening friendship, good neighborly relations and stability in the region," Tsipras said in a statement. "I want to congratulate and thank (the two men) and their families for their fortitude, patience and trust in our efforts, which were finally justified."