ATHENS (Reuters) - Turkey‘s deadly earthquake generated huge sympathy in neighbouring Greece and, although it is unlikely to eradicate deep-rooted political rivalries, the tragedy may help bilateral relations in the longer term. Greece, clearly shocked at the extent of a disaster so close to home, rushed to offer aid and condolences to Turkey, where thousands were killed by the quake early on Tuesday. But few political analysts expect such humanitarian gestures to make any substantial difference to relations between two countries which lurched to the brink of war in 1996 over a deserted islet in the Aegean Sea. Several Greek C-130 military transport planes have brought medical and other supplies to quake-ravaged northwestern Turkey and Greek rescue teams with sniffer dogs joined similar units from other nations in helping to search for survivors. The Greek public, deeply moved by media images of people searching desperately through debris for relatives, also flooded the Turkish embassy in Athens with calls and began collections of relief supplies. Greek officials said that Greece was quick to provide help because of its proximity but did not expect any political gains from playing good Samaritan. Long at odds over territorial rights in the Aegean Sea and the divided island of Cyprus, the two NATO members recently began low-level talks on uncontentious issues such as trade and cultural cooperation in an effort to please Western allies. In an unprecedented gesture, Cyprus‘s Greek-led government also offered aid to Turkey, which invaded the Mediterranean island in 1974 in response to a Greek-inspired coup. The two have no diplomatic relations. Greek aid was received with warm thanks in Turkey but officials there also said it could not be linked with politics. Territorial disputes, the festering Cyprus division and Greece‘s hindering of Turkey‘s European Union aspirations will continue to stand between the two neighbours, analysts said.