Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Gerapetritis in Athens. Speaking at a joint press conference, Fidan emphasized Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean. Addressing the ongoing wars in the Middle East, Fidan stated, “We do not want to see war, tears, and drama in our region. We want peace to be established in the Middle East as soon as possible. The international community needs to continue increasing pressure on Israel.”

Minister Hakan Fidan met with his counterpart Yorgo Gerapetritis in the Greek capital, Athens.

The two ministers, meeting in Athens, held a joint press conference after their discussions.

In his speech at the press conference, Minister Fidan started by thanking his counterpart.

“OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE PROGRESSING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION”

Fidan stated, “Relations between Turkey and Greece are progressing positively. Our multifaceted relations are increasingly strengthening. We are taking important steps together in areas like trade, economy, transportation, tourism, and culture.”

Fidan highlighted ongoing work on new areas of cooperation, stating, “The region we are in harbors many problems. In this challenging geography, Turkey and Greece need to cooperate with mutual trust. With a win-win approach, we can contribute to the welfare and peace of our peoples.”

“ETERNAL NEIGHBORLINESS MUST TURN INTO ETERNAL FRIENDSHIP”

Referring to the political will shown by President Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Minister Fidan emphasized the need to seize the upcoming historic opportunity and make the positive climate between our countries permanent. Fidan added, “We must turn our eternal neighborliness into eternal friendship. I have no doubt that we can achieve this goal with a sincere and constructive approach.”

“WE HAVE REVIEWED OUR NEW ROADMAP”

Minister Fidan stressed the evaluation of bilateral relations and mentioned that the roadmap for the coming months is under review.

Fidan revealed preparations for the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council Meeting in Ankara in the early months of 2025, with the participation of leaders and the drafting of agreements ready for signing.

Pointing out the joint efforts to reach a trade volume of 10 billion dollars as set by the leaders, Fidan stated, “We aim for our trade volume, which was 5.8 billion dollars in 2023, to exceed 6 billion dollars by the end of this year.”

“THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THE AEGEAN”

Underscoring the Ege and Eastern Mediterranean issues in terms of international law and good neighborly principles, Fidan emphasized the interconnected problems that need to be worked on and resolved in the Aegean. He emphasized the need to approach issues with mutual respect and cooperation to avoid tensions and crises.

Regarding Turkey’s stance on the Cyprus issue, Fidan mentioned, “We will continue to address the Cyprus issue based on the realities on the island. The federation model is no longer valid on the island. A new spirit is needed to ensure the security, freedom, and prosperity of both Turks and Greeks on the island.”

COOPERATION IN COUNTER-TERRORISM

Fidan mentioned the importance of preserving our cultural heritage in Greece and expressed willingness to provide all kinds of support for the restoration of Ottoman works. He also stressed Turkey’s expectation of increased cooperation on counter-terrorism, especially against FETÖ and PKK. Fidan noted, “We aim to continue our cooperation in combating irregular migration. We have also discussed regional and global developments, including the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Balkans.”

Fidan stated, “We do not want to see war, tears, and drama in our region. We want peace to be established in the Middle East as soon as possible. The international community must continue to increase pressure on Israel.”

“PREVENTING GROWTH OF CONTRADICTIONS THROUGH COMMUNICATION CHANNELS”

Opening the conference, Minister Gerapetritis mentioned how the direct and sincere communication channel prevents problems from escalating and making contradictions more challenging.

Gerapetritis stated, “We are experiencing a normalization process between our two countries. Through the contacts we have developed as two good friends and neighbor countries in a complex international and regional environment, we have achieved very good results.”

Highlighting the significant contribution of visa-on-arrival applications on 10 Greek islands in preventing prejudices, the Greek Minister emphasized that various issues were discussed regarding bilateral relations.

Gerapetritis noted discussions on joint candidates for senior positions and expressed that the restarting of warm relations between Turkey and the European Union is a source of satisfaction for Greece.

CYPRUS AND AEGEAN SEA ISSUES

Gerapetritis also touched upon the issue of minorities, emphasizing that minorities should serve as a bridge of friendship between the two countries. The Cyprus issue was also mentioned, with Greece adopting a consistent stance favoring a sustainable, fair, and constructive dialogue leading to a resolution. In a conflicting world, a united Europe will not only provide welfare to the citizens of Cyprus but also play an important role as an economic symbol.

Discussions about the prerequisites for comprehensive talks on the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean were also addressed during the discussions.

The Greek Minister acknowledged, “We are aware of the significant distance between our stance as Greece and the stance of Turkey. Nevertheless, we are determined to discuss, reduce, and diminish this distance. We had the chance to express our intention to maintain and develop the positive atmosphere we have built.”