Drawing a road map, in order to resolve the one and only difference between Greece and Turkey, is the main objective of Kyriakou Mitsotakis in tomorrow’s meeting with the Turkish president, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania.

“We obviously have significant differences. But we can agree that based on good neighborly relations, but also our respect for International Law, we will draw a road map so that we can resolve our important geopolitical difference, which is none other than the delimitation of maritime zones, that is, EEZ and continental shelf in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean”, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Greek prime minister wants to make use of the positive momentum with the neighboring country, but also the positive mood, the “turn” according to many, in his tactics Recep Tayyip Erdoganwho appears to be returning to Turkey’s Western outlook, giving the “green light” for Sweden’s NATO membership and restarting relations with the European Union.

Athens includes in the “road map” the improvement of relations in a series of issues, which can pave the way for a possible agreement on the subject of the continental shelf. Hence:

-The first aim is to stimulate cooperation on an economic and commercial level
-Second pursuit is the resumption of exploratory contacts
-Third pursuit is confidence building measures

“I believe that both with a strong popular mandate we can take a first step in restarting the relations between Greece and Turkey. As I have said many times, we are not doomed to live with Turkey in a permanent climate of tension… And I expect that we can build on this positive climate, to make some important steps forward,” the Greek Prime Minister stressed.

Before the appointment of the two leaders, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, will also have a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Vilnius, with the main objective of restarting the discussion on Confidence Building Measures. Today, Mr. Dendias had a short meeting with the President of Turkey.

Erdogan meets Biden

Earlier on Tuesday, the Turkish president had a meeting with US President Joe Biden, proving there the “turn to the West”. After the meeting, the Turkish president said that Turkey is “starting a new approach” with the US and added that the previous meetings with Biden were a “warm-up. Now we are starting a new process,” Anadolou reported.

Erdogan said he believed it was time for head-of-state consultations with the US as part of the strategic mechanism. “I see this meeting as the first step towards that,” he added.

Biden thanked Erdogan for his leadership and diplomacy in Sweden’s NATO accession process, saying he looked forward to meeting the Turkish president again.