In a meeting held in Athens on Friday, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan engaged in candid talks about their countries’ enduring disputes in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. While both sides acknowledged their stark differences, they also agreed to disagree, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue despite the lack of consensus on key issues.
Gerapetritis underscored that, for Greece, the core issue remains the delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Our positions differ regarding the scope of the discussions, with our stance focusing on a single issue. We will revisit this topic in a future meeting soon,” he stated. On the other hand, Fidan insisted Turkey’s stance on the existence of “interlinked issues in the Aegean.”
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to establish a diplomatic mechanism aimed at preventing tensions, particularly in light of past incidents that nearly escalated into crises. This new initiative will complement the ongoing trilateral engagement in political dialogue, the so-called “positive agenda,” and confidence-building measures.
From Athens’ perspective, the main takeaway was the reaffirmation of an uninterrupted dialogue on critical issues, albeit without the expectation of immediate breakthroughs. “The statements confirm that there is a positive atmosphere on which we can build,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking from Budapest. “However, there is still no common framework for in-depth discussions on our one major dispute with Turkey, which is the delimitation of the EEZ and continental shelf in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.”
Mitsotakis said Greece approaches the talks from a position of strength.
“We are a country with strong armed forces, a stable and growing economy, and a framework of geopolitical alliances that recognize the legitimacy of our positions, supported by European Council decisions that reinforce our stance.”
He added: “We are talking, and we will continue to talk. And even if we cannot find a framework to agree on our central dispute, we must preserve calm waters.”
On Cyprus, the divergence was clear. Gerapetritis emphasized a solution based on UN parameters, while Fidan reiterated Turkey’s view that discussions must be based on “realities on the island,” claiming a federal model is no longer viable.
The two ministers also touched on the minority rights issue, with Fidan raising concerns about the preservation of Ottoman monuments in Greece. However, Athens says the sites are under its jurisdiction and managed by cultural authorities.
