Greek FM highlights trust-building with Türkiye ahead of key talks

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis stated that Greece and Türkiye have gradually established a sufficient level of trust through open communication channels during the past 15 months.

Speaking to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Gerapetritis provided insights into the ongoing rapprochement between the two nations.

He highlighted that the foreign ministers of both countries have received directives from their leaders to assess the current conditions for comprehensive discussions on determining the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Gerapetritis noted that all related topics will be addressed during Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s planned visit to Athens in November.

Maintaining relations amidst stagnation

Gerapetritis emphasized the importance of sustaining the positive atmosphere in bilateral relations, even if an agreement is not reached.

He acknowledged that discussions on maritime jurisdiction areas might be suspended, but both countries will strive to preserve the current goodwill.

He also stressed the need for active solutions during consultative meetings, stating, “We do not aim to reach the 65th round in the consultative talks. After 21 years and 64 rounds, we have not achieved a meaningful negotiation level with Türkiye, neither in content nor in process.”

“Consequently, we often find ourselves in a worse position than where we started. Historically, stagnation in complex foreign policy issues leads to harm. Acting independently can yield beneficial outcomes,” he added.