It is Greece’s intention “that any disagreements arising between Greece and Türkiye are not producing crises, and that is a great legacy”, noted Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis on Thursday evening, speaking on national broadcaster TV ERT’s main newscast.
The minister gave this interview right after the end of the 5th High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) between Greece and Türkiye, a day which the minister called historic. He also accompanied Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his plane when he was leaving Athens.
It is time for a new understanding between the two countries, he added, “ to have better economic relations, and not experience the tension we used to have between us.”
The calmness in bilteral relations that has been evident over the last ten months “looks as though it is now quite solid”, he noted, but “we will take this step-by-step.”
There is now a genuine intent to “move forward in our relationship, solidify our bonds and move on to the next step when conditions are right.”
“ Defining the EEZ and the continental shelf is the only difference” between the two countries, he added.
Regarding briefing opposition party representatives, Gerapetritis added that he will brief the Hellenic Parliament’s Standing Committee on National Defense & Foreign Affairs very soon.
Gerapetritis noted that a series of meetings has been scheduled with his Turkish counterpart up to the summer of 2024, and the Greek premier will be visiting Ankara in the spring.
“ All next steps are planned with sincerity, prudence, and professionalism”, he pointed out.
