Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently met with the President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York.
During their brief yet productive meeting, Mitsotakis and Erdogan reviewed advancements in political dialogue and discussed a positive agenda moving forward. They agreed to enhance cooperation on migration, focusing on dismantling smuggling networks that pose significant risks to lives.
The leaders tasked their foreign ministers, George Gerapetritis of Greece and Hakan Fidan of Turkey, with preparing for the upcoming Supreme Council for Cooperation, set to convene in Ankara in January 2025, in line with the Athens Declaration.
Συμφωνήσαμε επίσης να εντατικοποιήσουμε τη συνεργασία στο μεταναστευτικό το επόμενο διάστημα, για την εξάρθρωση των δικτύων των διακινητών που θέτουν σε κίνδυνο ανθρώπινες ζωές.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) September 24, 2024
In relation to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, the foreign ministers are set to evaluate when discussions on these topics can resume as part of their ongoing dialogue. The next High-Level Cooperation Council meeting is anticipated for January 2025 in Ankara, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expected to visit Greece to collaborate with his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, in preparation.
On migration, both sides expressed their intent to strengthen cooperation, with plans for a meeting between the relevant migration ministers to improve coordination.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, Greece reiterated its and Nicosia’s long-standing positions, highlighting the importance of resuming dialogue under the auspices of the UN. The Greek side also voiced full support for the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to convene a trilateral meeting.
Following the trilateral meeting involving Greece, Cyprus, and France, Mitsotakis is expected to brief Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on his discussions with Erdogan.
