Mitsotakis, Erdogan’s meeting in Vilnius a window of opportunity for Greek-Turkish relations

The upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the newly elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 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 neighbouring 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 same sources said that the “momentum for dialogue with the neighbouring country must not be lost.” Mitsotakis has stated that the channels of communication with Turkiye 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. “There are disagreements. Turkiye’s positions are known. So are Greece’s positions. The fact that we disagree does not mean that we do not discuss,” according to government sources, adding that “the Greek side’s firm position 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 favour of an honest relationship with the neighbouring country, in favour of the peaceful resolution of disputes, with dialogue in good faith, on the basis of International Law and good neighbourly relations.