Ankara, Turkey – In a significant diplomatic development, the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey have taken steps towards reviving high-level contacts between their nations. The aim is to explore “new approaches” to long-standing issues that have strained relations between these NATO allies for decades.
The constructive discussions between Greece’s Giorgos Gerapetritis and Turkey’s Hakan Fidan have unfolded in a relatively amicable atmosphere, triggered in part by Greece’s aid to Turkey following a devastating earthquake earlier this year and Turkey’s expression of condolences following a tragic train accident in Greece.
Hakan Fidan expressed optimism, stating, “We have entered a new and positive period in our relations with Greece. We reiterated our belief that our problems will be resolved through a constructive dialogue between the two neighbors and allies.”
This meeting takes place as Turkey, grappling with an economic downturn, seeks to reset its often-turbulent relations with Western nations. It follows a rare meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania in July.
As part of a “roadmap” unveiled during the talks, Mitsotakis and Erdogan are scheduled to meet again on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 18. This will be followed by a meeting of high-level officials in October. Both sides will also engage in discussions on confidence-building measures and the revival of a stalled high-level cooperation council meeting.
Giorgos Gerapetritis emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach, saying, “We don’t have our heads in the clouds. We know that the distances that developed with the passage of time and the passions passed on from generation to generation cannot be erased with one stroke.”
He added, “But we have the disposition and the will to invest in candor and mutual understanding so as to seek common ground, break with established opinions and, where there are disagreements, at least not have them lead to crises.”
Greece and Turkey have grappled with disputes over territorial claims in the Aegean Sea, energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean, and the ethnically split Cyprus, among other issues. The year 2020 saw tensions escalate over exploratory drilling rights in the Mediterranean Sea, leading to a naval standoff.
However, the atmosphere during Tuesday’s meeting was notably different from a meeting two years ago when the previous Greek and Turkish foreign ministers engaged in public accusations in Ankara.
The longstanding tension includes Turkey’s accusations against Greece for deploying troops on Aegean islands near the Turkish coast in violation of treaties. Greece, in response, contends that such military presence is necessary for defense against potential threats from Turkey, which maintains a substantial military force on its western coast. Turkish officials have suggested that continued militarization of the islands could lead to questioning their ownership, even raising the specter of missile deployment.
This diplomatic initiative marks a significant step forward as Greece and Turkey seek to overcome their historic disagreements through dialogue and cooperation, offering a glimmer of hope for improved relations in the future.
