Even when we do not find easy solutions, we discuss, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said on Friday, in statements after meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, who is visiting Athens.

We had an “initial and sincere discussion of a critical issue,” noted the foreign minister.

Gerapetritis pointed out that the problems of the two countries were not magically solved through dialogue,”  and underlined that there were also “difficult moments”, but there was also a “direct and honest channel of communication.”

He noted that the next round of discussions of the so-called positive agenda will take place in Athens on December 2 and 3, while he recalled that there have been six meetings between the two leaders and two rounds of talks on political dialogue and the positive agenda.

He also emphasised that the contacts between the two countries are acquiring a normality, as should be the case between two neighbours.

Hakan Fidan: Relations between Greece and Turkiye ‘moving in a positive direction’

In statements after meeting his Greek counterpart in Athens on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan thanked Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis for his hospitality and said that relations between the two countries are moving in a positive direction, with stronger cooperation in areas such as the economy, tourism and culture.

He noted that there were new areas of cooperation and added that the two sides seek to cooperate and to understand each other.

“In this difficult geography, the two countries must move within a framework of mutual trust and we can contribute to the prosperity of our peoples with a win-win approach,” he said. The leaders of the two countries, Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had exerted their political will in this direction, he added.

“Our age-old proximity must become eternal friendship,” said Fidan, adding that the road map in the coming months was discussed during the meeting with Gerapetritis. He noted that the 6th meeting of the High-level Cooperation Council will be held in Ankara at the beginning of 2025 and that they discussed possible agreements at this meeting, while contacts between other ministries in the two countries were also increasing. He also said that joint efforts to increase the volume of bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars are continuing.

Referring to the issues concerning the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, Fidan said that “we have to be realistic and properly diagnose the problems”. He said that the problems were interrelated and that solutions must be found. “We cannot restrict them to the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone. We must discuss all the problems that can cause friction,” he added. He spoke of a “fair distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean,” which he said his country supports. “If we act in the spirit of the Athens declaration we will overcome the problems,” he added.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, he said it should be discussed “based on the realities on the island” and asserted that “the federation model is no longer valid in Cyprus”. Finally, he referred to minority issues and said that he expressed the expectations “that our expatriates have in Greece”. He said that Turkiye considers the protection of cultural heritage very important and said that his country can help in this. He also said that he expects “more effective cooperation with Greece in the fight against terrorist organisations, …because it is of benefit to both countries”.

Fidan also spoke of a need to develop bilateral cooperation in tackling with illegal migration, while stressing that “we as Turkiye do not want war in our region”. Referring to the Palestinian issue, he said that calm must be secured immediately with a vision of two states, and added: “Netanyahu’s fanaticism will continue to stain the region with blood”.

Regarding Ukraine, he called for a just solution within the framework of territorial integrity and ended by expressing hope that “we will continue to further strengthen our relations with our ally Greece, and differences of opinion can be resolved with mutual respect on the basis of international law.”