Yesterday in Ankara smiles were exchanged between Greek and Turkish officials. It’s not that the difficulties and obstacles of the intricate bilateral relations between the two countries weren’t present however, both have consciously chosen to deescalte differences and make efforts to cooperate wherever possible.
The positive atmosphere persisted throughout dinner, marking the end of the fourth consecutive meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdoğan in under a year. Notably, the seating arrangement at the dinner, as reported by protothema.gr, differed from previous meetings, with guests placed at round tables. Mitsotakis and Erdoğan sat together accompanied by their translators. The private conversation between the two leaders remains undisclosed, but observers noted the excellent atmosphere based on body language cues. The enjoyable ambiance was enhanced by Turkish cuisine and traditional music.
The meeting between Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdoğan had a positive atmosphere, with Mitsotakis staying longer than scheduled. Erdoğan avoided contentious Greek sovereignty issues and made no mention to matters concerning the maritime parks, the minority in Thrace and the Cyprus issue. As for the subject of the Monastery of Chora turned mosque, the Turkish President appeared factual while attempting to amuse with an invitation to dinner for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Despite differences, both leaders emphasized the importance of dialogue. Plans for future meetings were discussed, including at NATO Summit in July and UN General Assembly in September.
Gorgios Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan are set to hold discussions during the summer, potentially during the NATO Summit. Turkey’s appointment of a new Deputy Foreign Minister, crucial for positive dialogue with Greece, is still pending as the current is preparing to depart for the UN. Additionally, the composition of the Greek-Turkish Business Council is awaiting its finalization. However, the fundamental issues of the Greek-Turkish dispute, particularly concerning the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as the Greek-Turkish conflict concerning the Aegean continental shelf which notably dates back to November 1973 continue to remain unresolved with discussions not yet reaching any stage.
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