On April 22, the Turkish delegation arrives in Athens for the next round of Confidence Building Measures (MOE), while the meeting for the positive agenda which will take place in Istanbul, according to diplomatic sources.

As the same sources pointed out, no exact time has been set for the Greek prime minister’s visit to Turkey, but it is estimated that will be held in mid-May.

During the discussions, so far there has been no discussion on the continental shelf and EEZ issues. The conditions have not reached there.

Diplomatic sources point out that a climate of mutual honesty and trust should be established and there should be a mutual understanding of the principles that should govern the dialogue.

“It will not be a short process, whenever there is this dialogue” they emphasized. “It is extremely important to cultivate a climate of calm and not to create crises. At the moment there is no activity in the Aegean” said the same sources and added that the safest way to do this is to settle the one and only dispute.

“Differences still exist, but the goal is not to produce crises to a degree where calm and peace in the region will be compromised,” they emphasized and added: “We are going through a period of relative calm, both in the verbal part and in the field point. We understand that cases with related tensions will exist, but we should have an attitude that promotes peace and prosperity.”

As the same sources emphasized, “the issue of Cyprus it is absolutely of major national importance and we will continue to manage it that way.” Greece is in constant cooperation with the Cypriot government and it is emphasized that it is important to speed up the procedures in order to have a meaningful dialogue.

“The position expressed by the Turkish Cypriot side is out of context and cannot be discussed. It also defies every concept of logic. You cannot come to a dialogue demanding as a condition that the guarantee you want has been accepted, it goes against all political and diplomatic logic”. It is positive, the same sources added, that a special UN envoy has been appointed and every possibility provided within the UN framework, but also within the EU framework, for a meaningful discussion should be exhausted.

Reference in Euro-Turkish to the conclusions of the European Council of April

As far as Euro-Turkish relations are concerned, the same sources indicated that there will be an aversion to Euro-Turkish relations, in the conclusions of the European Council of April. “Greece’s belief is that there should be an explicit reference to the Cyprus issue.” After all, as recalled, “in the conclusions of June there was an explicit reference that the EU will be actively present at all stages towards the resolution of the Cyprus problem”.

There has been no change in Greece’s stance on Kosovo

“The Greek side unfailingly maintains our attitude towards both Serbia and Kosovo. There has not been, nor do we intend for there to be, a change of attitude,” underlined diplomatic sources. Regarding the report of the Council of Europe, it is clarified that “it has no influence on the Greek diplomatic position towards Serbia and Kosovo, it is an internal matter of the Council of Europe and in any case it is non-binding”. This is an internal report and a simple non-binding opinion. After that, after all, it will come down to the level of permanent representatives and then to the level of the Council of Europe.

Regarding the North Macedoniathe same sources pointed out that there must be a faithful implementation of the Treaty of Prespa, while they emphasized that the memoranda should be ratified if all the steps are followed from the other side as well.

Diplomatic sources pointed out that Greece is closely following the political developments, where national elections are to be held in May. With reference to the statements of the official opposition leader that the country will no longer be referred to as “North Macedonia”, it is pointed out that “the logic of the Treaty of Prespa is not only an obligation of the country but cannot be changed unilaterally and takes precedence over any other provision” .