Mitsotakis, Erdoğan to meet in Ankara today
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travels to Ankara today for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aimed at maintaining open channels of communication and strengthening bilateral ties. Their meeting is scheduled for 15:15 (Greek time), followed by the session of the 6th Greece–Turkiye High-Level Cooperation Council.
Government sources say that while no common ground has yet been found on launching talks over the delimitation of the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean — the only dispute Athens recognizes as subject to international adjudication — Greece seeks a constructive dialogue and the preservation of a calm climate in relations AMNA reported.
According to the same sources, this improved climate over the past two and a half years has led to tangible gains, including fewer airspace violations, enhanced cooperation on migration resulting in reduced flows, easier short-term visa access for Turkish citizens to 12 Aegean islands, and increased bilateral trade.
The meeting marks the first between the two leaders in 18 months, their last having taken place in September 2024 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Foreign Ministers Giorgos Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan, along with senior diplomatic advisers, will also attend.
Following the council meeting, the two leaders are expected to make joint statements to the press at 17:00 (Greek time).
President Erdoğan will later host a dinner in honor of the Greek prime minister and his delegation.
The prime minister will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis; Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis; Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos; Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas; Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis; Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki; Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Giannis Kefalogiannis; Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris; Culture Minister Lina Mendoni; and Deputy Foreign Minister Haris Theoharis.
