Mitsotakis-Erdogan Talks in Ankara

A closely watched meeting in Ankara on Wednesday afternoon between visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and host Recep Tayyip Erdogan was publicly – and privately – hailed as utterly positive and as a continuation of rapprochement between the two sides, while also noteworthy for the issues-cum “thorns” directly cited by the former during joint statements.

Mitsotakis, among others, called for Ankara to rescind an unprecedented resolution by the Turkish grand assembly, dating from 1995, threatening Athens with war in case Greece exercises its legal rights to extend territorial waters to 12 nautical miles. He referred to “significant disagreements” between the two neighbors, possibly hinting that those issues were again broached in Wednesday’s talks.

“… delimitation of maritime zones is the only difference that could be brought before the (international) Court, based on the (UN) Law of the Sea. Our position on minorities is clear, based on the Treaty of Lausanne. Let us work on how minorities can become bridges of friendship between our peoples,” Mitsotakis said, in what appeared to be a prepared statement during the joint briefing afterwards.