Delegations from Greece and Turkey were meeting in Athens on Monday as part of long-standing efforts to improve often tense relations, days after Turkey voiced objections over Greece’s plans to create marine nature reserves in the Ionian and Aegean seas.
Greece has reacted to a report in the Financial Times suggesting that the government in Athens faces significant pressure to supply air defense systems to Ukraine, claryfing that no action would be taken that might compromise the country’s deterrent capability.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan began a rare visit to Iraq on Monday aiming to reset ties between the Middle East neighbors by inking a raft of deals covering security cooperation against Kurdish PKK militants, energy and trade.
Greek and Turkish delegations will on Monday hold a meeting on Confidence Building Measures at the Defense Ministry in Athens, according to an announcement on Sunday.
Overflights by Turkish fighters over Greek airspace, a lasting major source of tension between the two nominal allies, may have virtually ceased over the past six months, but this has not lulled Greek officials into believing that Turkey has abandoned its disputing of Greek sovereignty over large parts of the Aegean.
The lack of goodwill from the Turkish side does not bode well for the reunification prospects of Cyprus, its Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said in an interview with Kathimerini.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and reach a fair and lasting peace in the region during a meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul on Saturday, his office said.
According to mythology, Zeus was at the origins of Delphi. He freed two eagles to define the east and west. The flying predators met over Delphi. Eunomia (Law), Dike (Justice) and Eirene (Peace) were Zeus’ children.
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan views his upcoming meeting on May 13 with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis “an important stage” in exploring how the relationship between Greece and Turkey can be improved.
Western states have sought to send Iran messages via Turkey in recent days to reiterate appeals for de-escalation, a Western diplomat said on Friday.
Turkey on Friday called on all sides to refrain from steps that could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East, after Israel reportedly attacked Iran in a tit-for-tat retaliation for Iran’s strike.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, currently on a campaign tour of Lesvos, on Friday met with Turkish tourists on the eastern Aegean island, which has seen a surge in visitors from the neighboring country following the implementation of the “visa-express” program.
Tensions with Ankara have resurfaced again after Ankara’s objections to Greece’s announcement to designate marine parks, including one in the Aegean Sea.
As part of the confidence-building measures agreed between Turkey and Greece, Greek military officials have visited a Turkish brigade.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 13 in Ankara.
The European Union will prepare to expand its sanctions on Iran in response to Tehran’s attack on Israel, EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Tuesday after an emergency video conference of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
