Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis had a preparatory meeting with the Turkish counterpart of Hakan Fidan at the UN on Tuesday morning. The meeting between the two ministers took place ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A little later, a tripartite Greece-Cyprus-Israel meeting was held at the level of foreign ministers at the Greek Mission to the UN.

Speaking to ERT, Mr. Gerapetritis noted that the Greek delegation came to the 78th UN Assembly for a series of important contacts, as well as to represent Greek diplomacy and our national interests at the highest international level. At this point he referred to the general circle of contacts carried out by the Greek delegation, but also to the meeting he had a little earlier with Hakan Fidan.

“During the week that we will be here at the General Assembly, we will have the opportunity to see a series of delegations from member states that are crucial for Greek diplomacy, with an important international position. Among them, I saw this morning my Turkish counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the preparation of the agenda and the schedules of tomorrow’s meeting of the two leaders here in New York”, he noted.

From the Greek side, it is noted that the two ministers did not discuss the possibility of Mr Gerapetritis visiting Ankara in two weeks.

Tripartite Meeting Greece-Cyprus-Israel

“I also just had the opportunity to conclude our Tripartite Meeting with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Israel and Cyprus. A cooperation, which Greek diplomacy considers very important. Not only because we are together with countries with whom we have a common understanding of international affairs and common interests that connect us, but also because we believe that in the changing world it is very important to consolidate regional alliances, which have a special value in areas such as energy, environmental protection, political protection, but also other economic sectors, such as tourism.

I want to emphasize, once again, that Greek foreign policy will be present, active, multilateral. Promotes Greek interests abroad. And in any case, it will always be present in international organizations and forums for the defense of Greek positions”.

Finally, Mr. Gerapetritis did not fail to express once again his deep sadness and pain for the accident that happened in Libya. As he said, “I would like to express my deep sadness and pain for the incident in Libya, for the fact that five Greeks lost their lives in a humanitarian mission, in their attempt to save other lives. This makes it even more painful. My deepest condolences to their families.”