With the aim of maintaining and strengthening open channels of communication and establishing a functional relationship with Turkey, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will travel to Ankara today to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting is set for 15:15, Greek time.
The Greek-Turkish High Cooperation Council will then meet.
According to government sources, although there is currently no convergence on the launch of the discussion on the settlement of the only dispute between Greece and Turkey that can be brought before international jurisdiction, namely the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, Athens is looking forward to a constructive discussion and the maintenance of the climate of calm in bilateral relations. Moreover, the same sources stress that this climate has led to important achievements over the last two and a half years, such as:
- The reduction of delinquency in the air,
- Better cooperation with Turkey on migration and the overall reduction of flows,
- Facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas for Turkish citizens and their families on 12 Aegean islands
- Deepening bilateral trade.
The first meeting between the Prime Minister and the President of Turkey in a year and a half - their last meeting took place in September 2024 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York - and the meeting of the High Cooperation Council are important and are expected to underline the necessity of open channels to avoid crises and de-escalate tensions.
Foreign Ministers George Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan and the diplomatic advisors of the two leaders, Ambassador Milton Nicolaides and Akif Chagatai Kilits, will participate in the meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Erdogan before the opening of the 6th session of the Supreme Cooperation Council.
The two leaders are expected to review bilateral relations and discuss regional and international issues.
Athens and Ankara share the view that issues concerning the two countries should be discussed at the bilateral level and that improving the climate in bilateral relations is in the interest of stability in the wider region, the government sources said.
The ministers accompanying the Prime Minister are: Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis, National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Development Takis Theodorikakos, Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, Citizen Protection Michael Chrysochoidis, Education, Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Yannis Kefalogiannis, Immigration and Asylum Thanos Pleyris, Culture Lina Mendoni and State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Haris Theocharis.
After the High Cooperation Council meeting, the two leaders will make statements to the press (at 17:00 GMT).
This will be followed by a dinner hosted by the President of Turkey in honour of the Greek Prime Minister and the Greek delegation.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will also attend the dinner, at the invitation of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to an announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, during his visit to Ankara His Holiness will be accompanied by the also invited Monsignor. Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon.
