The dinner between the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has just started, at the Vahdetin Presidential Palace, on the Asian side of Istanbul.
The meeting of the two men will last about two hours.
SKAI reports that Mr. Mitsotakis will raise the issue of cooperation with Ankara in the energy field, either through a “revival” of East Med with Turkish participation, or through some other form of cooperation, or through a reciprocal transfer of liquefied natural gas ( LNG) in order to maximize energy security.
In fact, according to SKAI’s correspondent in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis, the two sides will exchange views on the transfer of natural gas to Europe, while they are expected to discuss the Eastern Mediterranean and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Today’s meeting is considered particularly critical after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has dramatically changed security in Europe. Sources close to the Maximos Palace emphasize that in the current security landscape, Greece and Turkey have a special responsibility for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the southeastern wing of NATO.
As far as Greek-Turkish is concerned, Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself has pointed out in the past 24 hours that he has “realistic and measured expectations from today’s meeting” and that is because, as he has noted, there is no expectation that disagreements with Turkey will be overcome. Athens reiterates that the Turkish allegations on a number of issues are well known and that Greece rejects and refutes them at all levels and at every opportunity. As the Greek positions are known, the same sources state and continue: “but the fact that we disagree does not mean that we should not discuss. “The channels of communication must remain open at all levels and the tension must be de-escalated.”
The Prime Minister previously attended the Divine Liturgy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Orthodox Sunday, while at 16:15 the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew at the Sismanogleio Palace
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