Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in the presence of the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey.

The meeting took place in a good atmosphere. Messrs. Mitsotakis and Erdogan they agreed that it is to the benefit of the two countries that the positive climate that has developed in bilateral relations in recent months has continuity and consistency.

To this end, the two sides agreed to build on the positive momentum and to activate multiple channels of communication between the two countries in the next period. They agreed on the next meeting of the Supreme Council of Greece-Turkey Cooperation to take place in the fall in Thessaloniki.

They tasked foreign ministers with guiding the process and keeping leaders informed of progress.

The Prime Minister emphasized that he looks forward to more frequent contacts at all levels, in order to build a climate of trust and the conditions that will lead to an improvement in Greece-Turkey relations.

The crucial appointment of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan started at Vilnius, Lithuania, a few minutes after 12 noon and lasted almost an hour – while it was originally scheduled to last half an hour. Is first meeting between the two leaders since the Istanbul meeting16 months ago and it was preceded by the “Mitsotakis yoke” by Erdogan.

The two leaders appeared smiling in the short dialogue they had, for the first time, in front of the camera. After the end of the meeting, government sources spoke of an honest discussion that developed into a positive atmosphere, while at the same time setting the framework for the continuation.

According to government sources, at the beginning of the meeting between the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Turkish President pointed out the existence of a new Council of Ministers in both countries with Mr. Mitsotakis to emphasize that “I understand that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs have already spoken and have a very good contact and cooperation”.

The same sources state that at the beginning of the meeting between the two leaders, the head of the Turkish secret services, Ibrahim Kalin, was also present, who congratulated the Greek prime minister on his re-election. In turn, Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Mr. Kalin on assuming his new duties.