The countdown to his visit Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Athens and his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakisstarted.

The Turkish president is expected in the Greek capital on Thursday morning, where he will initially have meetings with the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou and then with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with whom he will discuss the upcoming agreements and the next day in Greek-Turkish relations. The departure of the Turkish president is expected in the early afternoon, while during his presence in Athens, the measures will be “Draconian”.

What matters, however, is what exactly the two sides expect from the summit on December 7.

Athens’ expectations range at a realistic level, as history has taught us that everything can be overturned by one move, or one statement, or one event. It is characteristic that in the past, Greece and Turkey had signed 48 agreements, which, however, did not prevent us from coming very close to a – at least – hot episode in the past.

Athens aims at the basis of its pursuits from Thursday’s meeting the following:

1) Consolidation of calm, which can form the basis for good neighborly relations between the two countries.

2) Improving bilateral relations, which is the way to normalize relations, so that, if possible, difficult issues can be discussed at some point.

3) To focus the discussions on the positive agenda, many are a series of agreements that can create a good climate between the two countries. According to information, these agreements are expected to be “locked” in the next 48 hours.

Constant meetings are held at the Maximos Palace, in order to decide which of these agreements Greece will proceed with.

Regarding immigration, there is on the table the cooperation of the port authorities of Greece and Turkey to deal with flows and traffickers, and in tourism the discussion on three-day visas for Turkish citizens to visit the Greek islands is on the table.

The agenda of Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The good result in the December 7 meeting, however, does not depend only on the Greek side. It also depends on the intentions of the Turkish president and of course the agenda of issues he will put to the Greek prime minister.

According to Turkish media, Erdogan will raise the following issues:

1) Aims at immigration deals

2) Expectations on a road map for the delimitation of the EEZ-Shelf

3) Minority issues in Thrace, and

4) Energy issues

According to the correspondent of SKAI in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis, the Turkish president will send positive messages regarding the cooperation with Greece and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, however, it is expected with interest how he will react to the questions that will be asked by the journalists.