Sun. Mitsotakis: Exploratory contacts with Turkey only for the definition of maritime zones in the Aegean Sea

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised in his statements with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa Portugal's contribution to the fight against migration, while inviting him to Athens for the events marking the 200th anniversary of the 1821 revolution.

Mitsotakis referred briefly at the beginning to the statements of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Cavusoglu and said that Greece has not received any invitation from Turkey, which he expects to start exploratory contacts «on the one and only issue we are facing, which is none other than the definition of maritime zones in the Aegean».

Mitsotakis also referred to the first “Greek Portuguese” as he said, Colonel Antonio Almeida, who fought alongside the Greeks in 1821, and a century later his grandson of the same name will fall for the liberation of Macedonia.

Greece will join the exploratory contacts with Turkey when the date is finalised

In response to a relevant question, the Prime Minister said that Greece will enter into exploratory contacts with Turkey when the date is finalized, following the guidelines given by the European Council itself, “which is to start from where we left off in March 2016, and to make progress on the issue of defining the maritime zones in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean”.

Mitsotakis said that the procedure is simple once there is a willingness, adding that the Secretaries General of the two Foreign Ministries agree, set the date and then the date is set.

“That hasn't happened. But I consider it positive that Turkey expresses the will to start the process,” the prime minister said:

“It's time to stop playing bridesmaids, find a date and start making contacts. It will be a positive first step. The European Council stressed that consistency and continuity is needed in this policy, and I think this is what will be judged by Mr. Borel's report that will be presented to us in March.”.

Live | Joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Portugal @antoniocostapm. https://t.co/ABx63Jb1FP

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) January 11, 2021