The upcoming meeting of the Prime Minister offers a “window” of opportunity for restarting Greece-Turkey relations, Kyriakou Mitsotakis with the also re-elected Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoganthe day after tomorrow Wednesday, July 12 on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Government sources stated that “the positive dynamics that have formed in Greek-Turkish relations after the devastating earthquakes in the neighboring country and the re-election of two new governments with a fresh popular mandate opens a window of opportunity for restarting Greek-Turkish relations”.

At Megaro Maximos, they consider that the first meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the new climate that has developed, as well as the many months of incendiary rhetoric that preceded it, is a positive step for redefining relations in this new period for both Countries.

The same sources emphasize that “momentum for dialogue with the neighboring country must not be lost” and confirm that with this logic the prime minister is approaching the meeting with Mr. Erdogan.

The same people remind us that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has emphasized in all tones that the channels of communication with Turkey must be open at all levels and this will be pursued in the next phase, as well as the promotion of the so-called “positive agenda” which can create a climate of mutual trust and work to the benefit of the two peoples. In Athens they point out that “obviously there are disagreements. Turkey’s positions are known. So are Greece’s positions. Just because we disagree doesn’t mean we don’t talk.”

Government sources remind, in fact, that “the fixed position of the Greek side is that one a new cycle of tension is in no one’s interest, while posing risks to security and stability in the region. Greece is firmly in favor of an honest relationship with the neighboring country, in favor of the peaceful resolution of disputes, with dialogue in good faith, on the basis of International Law and good neighborly relations. It remains to be seen whether Turkey wants to turn the page on the relations between the two countries.”

This morning and ahead of the Prime Minister’s participation in the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will have a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis.

The prime minister is in Latvia today

Bilateral economic cooperation, as well as immigration, are expected to be discussed during today’s contacts of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Latvia.

This is the first visit of a Greek prime minister to Latvia in the last twenty years, a visit that was postponed last year due to the internal developments in Latvia which was in pre-election period. It is also noted that Kyriakos Mitsotakis had visited Lithuania and Estonia and the visit to Latvia was pending, which is now taking place on the occasion of the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with the Prime Minister, Chrisianis Karins, with which the strengthening of the economic cooperation between the two countries will be discussed. In fact, later and in this case next October, there will be a visit to the Baltic countries by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs K. Fragogiannis, as well as the cooperation within the framework of the European Union.

In the Prime Minister’s contacts in Riga, Latvia, immigration will also be discussed. Since 2021, Latvia has been faced with the phenomenon of instrumentalization of migration on its border with Belarus, on which the construction of a permanent fence is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ Latvian counterpart comes from the center-right New Unity party and also participates in the European People’s Party. The prime minister will also have a meeting with the president of the Parliament of Latvia Edwards Smiltens.