We Cannot Ignore Our Disagreements with Turkey, Says Greek Foreign Minister

Greece cannot ignore its disagreements with Turkey regarding territorial disputes in the Mediterranean Sea and other issues. Despite the complexities of the decisions, they are not impossible to resolve. This was stated by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in an interview with Kathimerini.

"It is impossible to turn away from issues on which we have different views and approaches," Dendias said. He noted that although the atmosphere during negotiations with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu is good, there is no consensus on many issues.

"The problem we face in our relations with Turkey is that there is no common standard in the structure of our disagreements," Dendias asserted. He emphasized that the delimitation of Greece's exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf in the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean must be based on international law.

"I do not see a hardening of Turkey's position on matters concerning the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. However, I do indeed see a fixed stance that exceeds the boundaries of international law, which complicates but does not eliminate the prospects for resolution," he added.

Dendias mentioned that he has invited Cavusoglu to Athens to continue discussions, which could help prepare the ground for a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It is noteworthy that during a joint press conference last Thursday, Dendias and his Turkish counterpart Cavusoglu engaged in a verbal altercation that quickly escalated into sharp accusations from both sides. This was Cavusoglu's first visit to Greece since 2015, aimed at finding common ground for a positive agenda in negotiations with Ankara.