Greek and Turkish diplomats held the third round of political dialogue talks in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, December 3, focusing on bilateral relations, EU-Turkey ties and regional developments.
The meeting, attended by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, aimed to prepare for the 2025 High-Level Cooperation Council in Turkey.
In a joint statement, both sides expressed a commitment to fostering cooperation and dialogue in a “constructive and positive atmosphere.”
The statement emphasised the two countries’ shared goal of enhancing both bilateral and international cooperation, particularly in the context of the upcoming 6th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting scheduled for early 2025.
📌 Joint Statement following the Political Dialogue Meeting between the Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Türkiye (03.12.2024)
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) December 3, 2024
🔗 https://t.co/B26xhwepIE pic.twitter.com/B4CwLcUmso
The discussions also covered regional issues and the state of Turkey-EU relations. These talks are part of broader efforts to improve relations between the two countries, which have historically been marked by tensions over issues such as irregular migration, the Cyprus dispute, territorial sovereignty in the Aegean and energy exploration.
In recent years, Greece and Turkey have taken steps to ease tensions, including a significant moment during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s visit to Athens in December 2023. This visit resulted in a friendship declaration, visa facilitation for Turkish citizens to visit certain Greek islands, and a decrease in irregular migrant flows to Greece.
Despite the positive momentum, challenges remain. The long-standing disputes, particularly over Aegean territorial issues, continue to present obstacles, with recent clashes between Turkish and Greek jets underscoring the fragile nature of the normalisation process.
Additionally, deals reached by both countries with the US for fighter jets have raised concerns about the potential for renewed tensions in the region.
Source: Ekathimerini.
