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A diplomatic “fever” is brewing in order to further reduce tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and create the conditions for a dialogue between Greece and Turkey to begin ahead of the September 24-25 summit, in which the European leaders will have to decide on sanctions against Ankara.
The signal for the resumption of exploratory contacts if the Turkish provocations cease was given by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, after his meeting with the President of the European Council in Athens.
The word “immediately” used by the Prime Minister, referring to the possibility of Athens sitting at the dialogue table with the neighbor, generated expectations for the beginning of the talks before the Summit and according to the SKAI report, nothing should be ruled out in the next twenty-four.
Furthermore, in all its conversations with the international “players”, the Greek side recalls that Athens was ready for exploratory contacts as of August 6, but Ankara was the one who decided to leave.
Climate in Turkey
In Turkey, the Milliyet newspaper cultivates a climate of dialogue, stating that talks with Greece will start immediately, before September 25, first at a low level and then at a higher level. The same publication affirms that meetings will be held to de-escalate and dialogue, so that Brussels does not impose sanctions against Ankara.
Yeni κafak is advancing on another wave, announcing a new Navtex for the Oruts Reyes research in the Eastern Mediterranean, after the completion of seismic maintenance work in Antalya.
The Merkel – Mitsotaki phone call
With these data, Athens seeks to obtain assurances from its international interlocutors that the Ankara de-escalation is not just a temporary tactic to escape European sanctions.
This was the subject of today’s phone conversation between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Angela Merkel, in which she expressed Athens’ concern about the possibility of Oruch Reyes re-entering the Eastern Mediterranean after the EU Summit.
The only difference is the continental shelf.
Greece clarifies that the dialogue with Turkey will refer to the only difference between the two countries, namely the delimitation of the EEZ.
However, Ankara does not accept the terms of the dialogue and seeks to put a number of issues on the table, something that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu made clear in his Kathimerini article.
Furthermore, especially for Cyprus, Mr. Tsavousoglou raised the issue of equal rights of Turkish Cypriots over the island’s underwater resources and equitable distribution of benefits.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo clearly raised a similar issue. During his visit to Nicosia, he supported the Republic of Cyprus against the Turkish challenges, but noted that the exploitation of natural resources and hydrocarbons should benefit both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Source: skai.gr
