Turkish FM: We agreed to bring new approaches to solving the problems between Greece and Türkiye

Speaking at the joint press conference after the meeting, the ministers stated that they agreed to bring new approaches to Turkish-Greek relations and to continue the positive agenda.

At the joint press conference, Minister Fidan said that they agreed to bring new approaches to the solutions of the problems regarding the Turkish-Greek relations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, "We are ready to continue dialogue with our neighbour Greece without preconditions and to develop our relations in all areas on the basis of common interests. We can solve our problems on the basis of international law with respect for mutual rights and interests."

Fidan spoke at the joint press conference after his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Gerapetritis at the ministry.

Stating that they discussed the problems in the context of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean with his Greek counterpart in a comprehensive manner, Fidan said, "We have differences of opinion in the Aegean. We were also discussing these in consultative meetings in the past. We emphasised on the resumption of the process in the coming period. We agreed to bring new approaches to the solution of the problems."

Fidan emphasised that the issue of illegal migration should be an area of cooperation, not competition, and that they do not want to see more loss of life in the Aegean.

Stating that they also discussed the problems of the compatriots living in Greece as an important agenda item, Fidan said

"We have implemented many positive practices regarding the problems of minorities in our country. We expect the same constructive approach for our cognates. We attach great importance to the protection of our cultural heritage in Greece. We are ready to support the restoration of Ottoman artefacts. Today we also discussed regional issues. We evaluated the developments in Ukraine, Libya and Syria. We reiterated our expectations from the European Union. We are ready to continue dialogue with our neighbour Greece without preconditions and to develop our relations in all areas on the basis of common interests. We can solve our problems on the basis of international law with respect for mutual rights and interests."

"Türkiye and Greece have entered a new and positive phase in their relations"

Stating that they had a fruitful exchange of views on a wide range of issues with his counterpart Gerapetritis, Fidan expressed his gratitude once again for the helping hand extended by the Greek government and people following the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February.

Fidan wished his counterpart "get well soon" due to the recent forest fires in Greece and said, "I would like to express once again that we are always ready to help our neighbour Greece."

Pointing out that a new and positive period has been entered in the relations between Türkiye and Greece, Fidan reminded that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek President Kiryakos Mitsotakis came together at the NATO summit held last month in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Minister Fidan noted that Erdoğan-Miçotakis reached a consensus in this meeting that the relations between the two countries should be discussed in a positive atmosphere and the problems should be drawn with a new perspective and that the foreign ministers were assigned the task in this regard.

Stating that they followed up the issues discussed by the leaders of the two countries at the NATO summit during their meeting with Gerapetritis, Fidan said that they comprehensively reviewed the relations between Türkiye and Greece and examined the road maps for the coming months.

Fidan said that Erdoğan and Mitsotakis will meet on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in two weeks and that political consultations and joint action plan meetings will be held in Greece in October at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the two countries.

Fidan said that confidence-building measures and consultative meetings are also on the agenda in the coming period, and noted that they envisage to hold the 5th meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council under the chairmanship of the leaders of the two countries in Thessaloniki at the end of the year.

Pointing out that the revival of dialogue channels and high-level contacts between Türkiye and Greece is a positive development, Minister Fidan said: "Together with my colleague, we confirmed our mutual will to continue this. We reiterated our belief that problems will be solved through constructive dialogue between two neighbours and allies."

Emphasising that Türkiye has always defended the principle of equitable sharing in the Eastern Mediterranean, Fidan said, "We exchanged views with my counterpart on the Cyprus issue. Our views on the solution of the Cyprus issue are clear. We discussed this issue as two guarantor countries.