Meeting in Athens: Mitsotakis and Erdogan appear conciliatory

Meeting in Athens
Mitsotakis and Erdogan appear conciliatory

Was there something? Greece and Turkey were on the verge of a military conflict in 2020 due to disputes over natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean. Numerous other conflicts, incidents, swipes and accusations followed. In May last year, President Recep said Tayyip Erdogan even made the Greek head of government persona non grata: Kyriakos Mitsotakis does not exist for him, he said.

It was only after the severe earthquakes in Turkey in February of this year, when Greece rushed to help, that things calmed down. The new détente culminated in a meeting between the two heads of state and government in Athens, which could not have been more optimistic.

Long conversation and a return visit

Mitsotakis and Erdogan spoke to each other for so long that the joint statements were delayed. A declaration of “friendly relations and good neighbors” had been signed, Mitsotakis reported afterwards, visibly proudly. Erdogan also seemed pleased and confirmed that the talks had been very productive. He invited Mitsotakis for a return visit. At the same time, numerous ministers from the two countries met and agreed on measures in areas such as trade, tourism, migration, energy and technology.

It was the first “High Cooperation Council” in a long time – a kind of working meeting between the two countries at the highest level, which had not taken place because of the many conflicts since 2016. The ministers presented concrete approach measures. Among other things, it was agreed to double the trade volume between the two neighboring states and NATO members to 10 billion US dollars (around 9.3 billion euros) in the next five years. In the future, Turkish citizens should also easily receive one-week visas to vacation on ten Greek islands near the Turkish coast. Athens had previously obtained approval from the EU for this.

The joint declaration of friendship aims in the same direction: it stipulates the will for cooperation between the two governments as well as the striving to improve economic connections, which have the potential to significantly increase prosperity in the region. It is also important to cultivate a spirit of solidarity and support each other in the face of the many current challenges.

Conciliatory tones, but central problems remain

Neither Erdogan nor Mitsotakis ignored the central problems – above all the disputes over the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the two states and the exploitation of natural gas under the seabed. But they were optimistic and even extremely forgiving.

“We are two neighboring countries that share the same sea, the same geographical location, the same climate and even the same culture in many areas,” Erdogan said. However, even between brothers there can be disagreements, just like differences of opinion between neighboring countries. That is normal. But: “What counts is the will to solve them. We want to make the Aegean a sea of ​​peace and cooperation.” The two countries could set an example in the world. “I say it openly, there is no problem between us that we cannot solve,” said Erdogan.

Mitsotakis was also confident. In the past few months, for example, we have seen that cooperation in the area of ​​migration is already working much better and fewer refugees have reached Greece. “The next phase of the political dialogue, if the conditions are right, could be an approach to the definition of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean,” he said. It is a historic duty to seize the opportunity to bring bilateral relations back into calmer waters.

It remains to be seen whether the mutual assurances will last and be followed through. Promises, obligations and contracts have existed again and again over many decades. After all: In the future, the High Cooperation Council will meet annually, as the Greek head of government announced.

dpa