For the next one Wednesday, July 12, at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, he “locked” his four Kyriakou Mitsotakis with Tayyip Erdogan according to SKAI information.

On Wednesday, at around 12 noon, after the conclusion of the work of the Synod, the two leaders will meet, but they will not be alone. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be at the Prime Minister’s side George Gerapetritis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou will probably also be present and Mr. Mitsotakis’ diplomatic advisor, Anna Maria Boura. In the next few hours, the exact composition will be known. If the meeting goes well, exploratory contacts may also begin within a reasonable time.

From Turkey’s side, Mr. Erdogan will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Press Representative Çagatay Kilic, a close adviser to the Turkish president, and possibly the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, if the composition is “three plus three”, and in Greek side is Mrs. Bura.

What is Athens seeking?

Athens expects that tones will be kept low, as was done after the earthquakes of February 6 in Turkey, and that the normalization of relations will continue, but for this to happen, Ankara should not raise issues that constitute “red lines” for the Greek side, such as the demilitarization of the islands, but also the doctrine of the “Blue Homeland”. The Turkish side should take a “step back” from these provocations.

Athens believes there are issues “positive agenda” in which discussions can proceed, such as the economy, bilateral trade, or civil protection issues that emerged with the devastating earthquake in Turkey. As SKAI journalist Yannis Kantelis pointed out, the Greek side is discussing only one difference with Turkey, i.e. the determination of continental shelf/ EEZ, with the Prime Minister pointing out on Thursday in the Parliament that on this issue the Court of The Hague could be a way out.

What Ankara says – Possibility of a new meeting

On the Turkish side, there is moderate optimism for the upcoming meeting, reports SKAI’s Istanbul correspondent Manolis Kostidis. “The orders will be given by the two leaders and officials they will monitor progress on specific issues“, it is emphasized. The main issue is the continental shelf, however in Ankara, they consider it to exist “multiple issues affecting her”, and they will be put on the table.

In the neighborhood, they expect “decisive steps” from the Greek side, and they think that now Kyriakos Mitsotakis can give the appropriate orders.

At the meeting, the two leaders may decide for their next meeting and to announce it. This will depend on the climate, however the information of Manolis Kostidis states that the pre-arrangement made for this meeting is good, so there may be a subsequent meeting which will be officially announced at the Vilnius Synod.