Reopening communication channels and selling a constructive agenda with Türkiye is actually essential, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated Sunday because the rival nations close to a rapprochement.
“Greece has not modified its technique towards Türkiye, however my need was to have the ability to discuss with Türkiye for our points to be resolved on the idea of worldwide regulation and for issues to not be taken to extremes after we disagree,” Mitsotakis stated throughout a information convention within the northern port metropolis of Thessaloniki on the sidelines of the 87th Thessaloniki Worldwide Honest.
He added, nonetheless, that the one downside Greece is prepared to debate with Türkiye is the delimitation of maritime borders.
Problems with sovereignty is not going to be matters of negotiation, nor points regarding the islands of the Japanese Aegean, Mitsotakis famous.
His remarks comply with a latest thaw in ties between the pair, who’re at loggerheads over quite a few points, notably competing claims to jurisdiction within the Japanese Mediterranean, overlapping claims over their continental cabinets, maritime boundaries, airspace, vitality, the ethnically cut up island of Cyprus, the standing of the islands within the Aegean Sea and migrants.
Tensions flared in 2020 over exploratory drilling rights in areas of the Mediterranean Sea – the place Greece and Greek Cyprus declare unique financial zones – resulting in a naval standoff.
Athens has additionally been finishing up an formidable rearmament program, constructing a navy presence on the disputed Aegean islands in violation of postwar treaties, one thing Ankara has warned towards, arguing that the continued militarization might result in Türkiye questioning their possession.
However since earlier this yr, a pleasant local weather emerged between the pair, triggered by Greece sending help to Türkiye following two devastating earthquakes and Türkiye providing condolences after a lethal prepare crash in Greece in February.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mitsotakis met in July throughout a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and the assembly was hailed as a constructive milestone by each international locations.
The leaders will once more meet on Sept. 20 in New York Metropolis on the sidelines of the United Nations Normal Meeting.
After internet hosting his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis in Ankara earlier this month, Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan additionally stated the perimeters agreed to “preserve dialogue with Greece with out preconditions.”
He additionally confirmed a contemporary spherical of talks of the Türkiye-Greece Excessive-Degree Cooperation Council can be held in Thessaloniki in December.
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