The countdown has begun for the important meeting of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which will take place at 18:00 Greek time, on the sidelines of the UN Summit, in New York.

The two leaders are looking for Mrwine pace for the benefit of both countriespursuing to continue the positive momentum that has possessed Greek-Turkish relations in recent months and is reflected in both the field and the rhetorical level, especially after the meeting of the two leaders of Greece and Turkey in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Present at today’s meeting between the two leaderswhich is the second within 2023, will also be the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidanwho met again yesterday for the preparation of the agenda and schedules of the four Mitsotakis Erdoganas well as deputy ministers, with the two leaders be expected to give the orders for the next stepswhich are the political consultations but also for the issues concerning the Aegean, mainly for the continental shelf.

The main aim of the Greek side is, in addition to maintaining the positive climate, to investigate the possibility of future appeals to The Hague for demarcation EEZ and continental shelf. A goal that Athens clearly recognizes cannot be achieved overnight, just like the resolution of the differences between the two countries, after all the Prime Minister himself from the TIF said that “The Hague is still a long way off”.

Greek-Turkish relations were mentioned at an event with Greek-American organizations Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis and introduced him road map that will determine their next steps next months with the aim of consolidation of a positive climate between the two sides. However, it was particularly clear that dialogue with Turkey can only be based on full respect for International Law, including the Law of the Sea and treaties establishing state sovereignty, borders and territorial integrity. As he explained, Greece’s position is that dialogue on the strict basis of International Law is the only way to resolve disputes. In this light, Mr. Gerapetritis clarified that the difference between Greece and Turkey concerns the delimitation of maritime zones and emphasized that all issues of national sovereignty are excluded from any dialogue.

According to recent meeting of the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs Mr. Gerapetritis and Mr. Fidan in Ankara a road map was agreed for the coming monthsin order to exist a thrust of relations on a new basis that will rest on three pillars: The first pillar is the political dialogue, which will be led by Deputy Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou. A second pillar will be the positive agenda that will have positive measures for both countries, led by Deputy Minister Costas Fragogiannis and third pillar will be the confidence building measures.

he road map includes meetings for all three pillars in October and November and by the end of the year the High Council of Greece-Turkey Cooperation between the two governments will be held in order to sign a set of agreements.

“I must emphasize that a constructive dialogue with Turkey can only be based on full respect of International Lawincluding the Law of the Sea and the treaties that establish the sovereignty of states, their borders and territorial integrity,” Mr. Gerapetritis emphasized at the event in New York.

Athens from today’s meeting between the two leaders Greece – Turkeyhe expects her keeping a low profile and the demonstration of consistency and continuity by the Turkish President in improving Greek-Turkish relationsa fact that is reflected in the climate of settlement presented by Ankara in recent months.

It is appreciated that the Turkish president has at least three decisive reasons for keeping a low profile with Greece as Ankara has realized that Turkey’s rapprochement with Europe and the US goes through good relations with Greece, at a time when on the one hand the Turkish economy needs significant foreign capital to recover, on the other hand it still has a long way to go to the reconstruction of the areas affected after the devastating earthquakes.

Perhaps typical of the intentions of the Turkish side is the interview of the Turkish president on the PBS television network where he friendship attack towards Greece stating “We have been friends with Greece for many decades. We have not been in opposing camps against each other,” he said characteristically, preparing the ground for today’s meeting.​