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Athens is looking forward to Turkey’s next “writing samples” after Oruc Reis’s return to Antalya, with Kyriakos Mitsotakis even sending Ankara a message that he’s ready even to meeting with Tayyip Erdogan if there are other de-escalation movements.
Availability for dialogue
During his interview in Thessaloniki, the Prime Minister defended the strategy he has followed in Greek-Turkish and insisted that Greece has gained additional allies and strengthened its diplomatic position in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In this regard, he referred to the role of both the EU and the US and the growing interest they have shown in recent years in the evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
The Prime Minister, without clarifying what the EU Summit called to discuss the issue of sanctions against Turkey will do, stressed that the sanctions list is still on the table.
In fact, he emphasized that the issue not only concerns Turkish provocations against Greece, but also refers to Cyprus, where Turkey’s illegal activities exist in its EEZ.
However, in light of Oruc Reis’s withdrawal from the region, the Greek prime minister’s main message from the co-capital focused on showing readiness for dialogue as Turkey proceeds with further de-escalation actions.
“We do not hide that we want to speak but in an environment of peace and without challenges. “I want to be hopeful and believe that yesterday’s move was a step in the right direction,” said the prime minister, emphasizing that since we have “writing samples”, “Greece is always ready to start a cycle of contacts soon. exploratory “.
The Prime Minister reiterated that “the end of the challenges must become the preface to the discussions.”
“I can meet with Erdogan, I am not against that possibility,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said when asked about the upcoming day of Greek-Turkish relations.
However, Mr. Mitsotakis clarified that “we cannot discuss and make exploratory contacts if someone takes unilateral action.”
From where it stopped in 2016
Mr. Mitsotakis once again, sending a clear message to Ankara, that the exploratory contacts have specific characteristics, reiterated that the starting point of the talks is 2016.
“We are ready, if the de-escalation suggested by the return of Oruc Reis to Turkey It is time to start the exploratory contacts from where they stopped in 2016 with the sole purpose of delimiting the maritime zones. That’s the framework, “he said.
Regarding the time of the beginning of the exploratory contacts, he stressed that at the moment it cannot be determined. 
For the main difference and … the other problems
“How quickly we can get back to exploratory contacts will depend.” Let’s be patient to make sure this reduction is ongoing and honest and from there we can find the other issues as well. “
However, Mr. Mitsotakis, although he reiterated that the discussions will refer to maritime zones, did not clarify whether there are “queues” in the dialogue, since there is still confusion about the terminology used in the last 24 hours on disputes.
Mr Mitsotakis spoke today of “a great difference” that Greece has with Turkey and that it is none other than the delimitation of maritime zones, while he did not give further clarification on what he meant in his article in the European press when he spoke about “differences” with Turkey.
Dialogue in good faith without unilateral challenges is to face the main and only basic problem which is the delimitation of maritime zones, repeated Mr. Mitsotakis.
However, what the Prime Minister emphasized was the need for Turkey to refrain from unilateral actions in maritime areas that have not been demarcated by international law.
“If we have indications from Turkey in the direction of a de-escalation practice, I am the first to be ready to sit at the dialogue table,” the prime minister said once again.
Peacekeeping force: we will not enter an arms race
This desire of mine and my will and the responsibility falls on the other party, he added, although he did not stop emphasizing that in addition to bilateral relations with Greece, Turkey’s position also concerns relations with Europe, for which, according to stressed, “stood up.” circumstances and supported Greece. “
In fact, despite the fact that the Prime Minister himself made the announcements for the purchase of French armaments (combat aircraft, frigates), as well as the general plan for the privatization of the defense industry and shipyards, he did not fail to point out that it’s about decisions. that strengthen the deterrent power of the Armed Forces, however, reject any idea that Greece is participating in an “arms race” competing with Turkey in this area.
In this context, Mr. Mitsotakis admitted that he is in advanced stage and discussions with France for a comprehensive military-military agreement between the two countries.
Mr. Mitsotakis characterized the Defense announcements as measured, included in the framework of the resilience of the economy and spoke about “smart digital EDs”.
“We are not going to enter an arms race,” stressed Mr. Mitsotakis. 
“We do not do secret diplomacy”
Responding to the Opposition’s accusations of secret diplomacy in national affairs, the Prime Minister was clear.
“He had briefed Mr. Tsipras, as well as the former prime minister’s adviser, on the latest developments.” I don’t remember Mr. Tsipras reporting to anyone when he was in government.
“Away from us any rhetoric about secret diplomacy. I also demand a sense of responsibility from political leaders,” he said, especially calling on the official opposition to act with greater responsibility.
Mr. Mitsotakis also confirmed that the degree of information of all the political leaders is not the same since he pointed out that “the degree of information and the degree of detail allow me to say that these are the confidential discussions that I have at all times with the political leaders “.
These were agreed
Regarding the written understanding, Mr. Mitsotakis said that the agreement in Berlin was violated and we reached the escalation of the last month under the responsibility of Ankara.
Regarding the content of the agreement with Turkey under the supervision of Berlin, Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out that this agreement was “” within the framework of the agreement, which was a process of how we can get back to exploratory discussions. on the one hand we have to discuss at this level with Turkey in relation to the delimitation of the EEZs and the maritime zones of the continental shelf in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean “.
He declined to elaborate, saying “I have said what I can say in public,” while continuing to emphasize that technical discussions are taking place that should be kept out of the public eye. This is not secret diplomacy, it is regular practice in diplomacy!
The convocation of the Council of Political Leaders is on the “table”
It should be noted that Mr. Mitsotakis also referred to the possibility of convening the Council of Political Leaders of the Greek-Turks and in fact for the first time left a window open for its convocation.
“I think the national front exists regardless of whether some people undermine it.” There is no strategic differentiation in our elections with the Opposition, “he said when asked about a possible Council of Political Leaders.
“I can use it when some decisions need to be ratified.” If I think it should be activated, I will, “concluded the prime minister.
SYRIZA and KINAL reacted strongly to the Prime Minister’s current reports on Greek-Turkish. 
It won’t make us co-responsible
HE SYRIZA accused the prime minister of trying to hold the official opposition accountable with his reports of informing Mr. Tsipras about a written agreement with Turkey in Berlin.
“He informed us that he has a clear conscience that he informed the opposition about the negotiations in Berlin, while all the political leaders deny it. At the same time, the “written agreement” became a “written understanding” the day before yesterday on the part of Mr. Gerapetritis and ended up “recording an agreement in oral minutes.”
We are waiting for you to finally decide what you agreed to and explain why you avoided answering the repeated questions about the content of the agreement.
“If he thinks he can make the Official Opposition jointly responsible for a final agreement that we do not know about, he laughs deeply at him,” emphasizes SYRIZA and adds:
He continues to underestimate the demand for the convening of the Council of Political Leaders. “He does not understand that we are in a parliamentary democracy and that he is the Prime Minister and not the Monarch.”
We will not fully ratify
On the subject of the convocation of the Council of Political Leaders is the ΚΙΝΑΛ accusing Mr. Mitsotakis of perceiving it as an instrument for the ratification of achievements and not as an instrument for the configuration of a national strategy.
“Mr. Mitsotakis lied once again today, regarding national problems. We were not informed about the signing of an agreement with Turkey.
We insist that the text be delivered to the political parties. Know its true content. Why are you hiding it?
As for the Council of Political Leaders, it is necessary to formulate the national strategy and the closed national front. Failing to validate the achievements of Mr. Mitsotakis. It does not have and cannot have a blank check, ”KINAL stated characteristically.
Secret negotiations: US and NATO plans
“Mr. Mitsotakis confirmed that not only are there secret negotiations with Turkey behind the back of the Greek people, but also that even the political leaders are selectively informed.
“Obviously, Mr. Mitsotakis chooses to inform those political leaders with whom – as he said – they do not have great differences, since they share the policy of involvement in the US-NATO plans, within which Greek-Turkish relations are also evolving. “he commented. he KKE.
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