Greece, Türkiye leaders seek steps toward normalisation, says Gerapetritis
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have a genuine intention to take steps toward normalising bilateral relations following the High-Level Cooperation Council meeting in Ankara.
In an interview with state broadcaster ERT on Thursday, Gerapetritis said Greece seeks a “normal relationship” with Türkiye, stressing that open channels of communication and structured dialogue are essential.
He said the two leaders reviewed progress in political dialogue, the positive agenda and Confidence Building Measures, describing the relationship as now “functional” and based on good neighbourliness. However, he acknowledged that major disputes remain.
Gerapetritis reiterated that Greece recognises only one dispute for international adjudication: the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf. Any issues touching on sovereignty are outside the scope of dialogue, he said.
He welcomed Erdogan’s reference to resolving differences on the basis of International Law, calling it a longstanding Greek position grounded in the Law of the Sea.
The minister said Mitsotakis made clear that threats against Greece must stop, including references to the long-standing casus belli adopted by the Turkish parliament in the 1990s. While he could not confirm that such positions would be revoked, Gerapetritis said there is currently sufficient understanding to allow for more substantial steps.
“Especially in today’s fluid geopolitical environment, the ability to talk with your neighbour is an essential imperative,” he said, adding that no concessions have been made and that Greece’s diplomatic position has been strengthened in recent years.
