Gerapitritis-Fidan Meeting: Focus on maritime zones and Greek-Turkish relations

Critical discussions are expected on the delineation of the continental shelf, with the Cyprus issue heavily influencing Greek-Turkish relations. "There’s no guarantee of peace in the Aegean without resolving the continental shelf and EEZ demarcation," a high-level diplomatic source told Efimerida ton Syntakton, ahead of the meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Athens on November 8.

This will be their 15th meeting in 15 months since the new Greek-Turkish rapprochement initiated by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2023 in Vilnius. Considered the most crucial to date, this meeting will serve as a preliminary discussion on fundamental differences between Greece and Türkiye.

The talks will center on three main areas to determine if conditions exist to resolve the issues of maritime zone delimitation in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean:

Agenda Setting: Each side will clarify their stance on the scope of discussions, aiming to outline bilateral issues that may be resolved, possibly through international adjudication. Greece will exclude topics related to Thrace, island demilitarization, and "grey zones" raised unilaterally by Türkiye.
International Law: The potential for common ground on international law principles will be assessed. Turkish diplomacy selectively approaches these principles, rejecting the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Process and Timeline: Opinions on how discussions will proceed and a timeline for completion will be reviewed to ensure political capital is effectively utilized.
Athens holds low expectations for an agreement, with diplomatic sources noting the challenge of establishing positions without delaying the Greek-Turkish dialogue. The most likely outcome is an agreement that more time is needed, with a possible follow-up meeting by year-end.

Cyprus Issue
In parallel, an expanded Cyprus conference involving both communities and guarantor powers is expected by December's end, aimed at resuming negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Although not officially on the Greek-Turkish dialogue agenda, Cyprus significantly impacts bilateral relations. If rapprochement falters, the momentum for renewed talks on Cyprus and developments in the Middle East may be compromised.