Greek-Turkish relations: The Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting is an opportunity to restart relations

The upcoming meeting between the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the also newly elected Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, July 12, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, offers the prospect of restarting Greece-Turkey relations.

According to government sources, “the positive momentum that has developed in Greek-Turkish relations after the devastating earthquakes in the neighboring country and the re-election of two new governments with a fresh popular mandate opens a window of opportunity to restart Greek-Turkish relations”.

“The momentum for dialogue with the neighboring country must not be lost”

In addition, the government emphasizes that the first meeting of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Tayyip Erdogan after the new climate that has developed, and also the many months of incendiary rhetoric that preceded it, is a positive step for redefining relations in this new period and for the two countries. The same sources declare that “momentum for dialogue with the neighboring country must not be lost” and confirm that with this logic the prime minister is coming to the meeting with Mr. Erdogan.

The same sources note that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has emphasized in all tones that the channels of communication with Turkey must be open at all levels and this will be pursued in the next phase, as well as the promotion of the so-called “positive agenda” which can create a climate of mutual trust and work to the benefit of the two peoples. In Athens they point out that “obviously there are disagreements. Turkey’s positions are known. So are Greece’s positions. Just because we disagree doesn’t mean we don’t talk.”

“Greece is firmly in favor of an honest relationship with the neighboring country”

Government sources recall, in fact, that “the firm position of the Greek side is that a new cycle of tension is not in anyone’s interest, while it poses risks for security and stability in the region. Greece is firmly in favor of an honest relationship with the neighboring country, in favor of the peaceful resolution of disputes, with dialogue in good faith, on the basis of International Law and good neighborly relations.

It remains to be seen whether Turkey wants to turn the page on the relations between the two countries.” The Maximos Palace informs that this morning and ahead of the Prime Minister’s participation in the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will have a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis.

The prime minister in Latvia on Monday

Bilateral economic cooperation as well as immigration are expected to be discussed during today’s contacts of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Latvia. This is the first visit of a Greek prime minister to Latvia in the last twenty years, a visit that was postponed last year due to the internal developments in Latvia which was in pre-election period. It is also noted that Kyriakos Mitsotakis had visited Lithuania and Estonia and the visit to Latvia was pending, which is now taking place on the occasion of the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Government sources inform that Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with the Prime Minister, Krissianis Karins, with whom the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries will be discussed. In fact, later and in this case next October, there will be a visit to the Baltic countries by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs K. Fragogiannis, as well as cooperation within the framework of the European Union.

The same people point out, in fact, that the immigration issue will also be discussed during the prime minister’s contacts in Riga, Latvia. The same sources recall that Latvia is faced with the phenomenon of instrumentalization of migration on its border with Belarus from 2021, where it is expected that by the end of 2024 the construction of a permanent fence will be completed.

In fact, the Latvian counterpart of Kyriakos Mitsotakis comes from the center-right New Unity party and also participates in the European People’s Party. The prime minister will also have a meeting with the president of the Parliament of Latvia Edwards Smiltens.