“By Mitsotakis we aim to dissolve the troubled atmosphere in the Aegean” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a conversation with journalists and added that Thessaloniki will be an important leap in Greece-Turkey relations.

In detail, according to what Manolis Kostidis reported from the SKAI studio, the Turkish president said: “Our goal is to dissolve the troubled atmosphere in the Aegean and Mitsotakis’ approach is in this direction. But God willing, the most important step for us right now will be the summit in Thessaloniki. The Thessaloniki Summit will now be a major leap forward between Turkey and Greece. Our foreign ministers will make preliminary preparations and we will hold this summit in Thessaloniki, hopefully on December 7. With this summit, we hope to see that many things have changed.

As Turkey and Greece, we must stay away from steps and statements that will damage the environment of trust. We need to take steps together in this area so that the upcoming process can proceed safely.”

Erdogan talks about normalizing relations with Israel and Greece

“With Israel and with Greece we showed a strong will to put the issues we have between us on a course. In our meeting, we met with the prime ministers of both countries, and we discussed the issues we have on our agenda,” said the Turkish president, speaking to Turkish businessmen in the US.

Erdogan’s proposal for joint drilling with Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean

“God willing, we will start drilling operations with Israel, we will transport gas to Europe,” said the Turkish president.

“God willing without much delay we will take this step and start energy drilling work with Israel, mainly in the energy sector. We will start operating energy transmission lines not only to Turkey, but also from Turkey to Europe. Energy partnerships in particular can take us to very different places. We talked with him (Netanyahu) about our possibilities in this matter,” he said.

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Concern in Turkey about F-16s – Fears that the US will not give them immediately

“The US is first waiting for the approval of Sweden’s accession by the Turkish parliament”

Hurriyet journalist Hande Firat analyzed: “Ankara clearly stated to Jake Sullivan that ‘you are telling us to say yes to Sweden’s NATO membership, this will strengthen our position on the F-16s, but we are telling you first to say yes to the sale of the F-16s and then pass the Sweden issue in Parliament. Otherwise, this topic will be blocked’.

CNN TURK correspondent Yunus Paksoy reported: “There is a risk. If the F-16s are approved again there is a risk. Because if the issue of Sweden and the F-16s are approved, if after 6 months a problem arises in US-Turkey relations, then Congress will again be able to block the granting of the F-16s. Therefore, logic says to first approve the F-16- and then move on to the subject of Sweden.

The improvement of relations with Israel and Greece means that your relationship with the USA is also improving. Because if your relations with these two countries are not good, whether we like it or not, then you face a problem in Congress as well. Because these are powerful lobbies, like the Armenian, Greek and Israeli lobbies.”

Erdogan is talking about the definitive partition of Cyprus

“The recognition of the ‘TRNC’ is the effective step for solving the Cyprus problem”

“The recognition of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ as an independent state is the only and most effective step that will contribute to the resolution of the Cyprus issue. We don’t recognize any options other than this. We are determined to maintain the rights of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ until the end, within the framework of the right of the guarantor country, which international law grants. The recognition of the TRNC as an independent state by one country after another serves peace and tranquility in the Eastern Mediterranean.”