In Brief

Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers met in Athens, acknowledging differences but agreeing to continue the dialogue.
Greek PM Mitsotakis emphasizes Greece's position of strength in negotiations.
Greece focuses on delimitation of continental shelf and EEZ, while Turkey insists on addressing multiple Aegean issues.
Disagreements persist on the Cyprus Issue, with Turkey rejecting the federal model solution.
A new diplomatic mechanism will be established to prevent tensions from escalating.

Situation Report

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Athens on Friday, November 8, addressing longstanding disputes in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. While both sides acknowledged significant differences, they agreed to maintain open channels of communication.

Greece maintains its focus on the delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as the primary issue, while Turkey insists on addressing multiple "interlinked issues" in the Aegean.

The meeting resulted in an agreement to establish a new diplomatic mechanism aimed at preventing tensions from escalating into crises. This initiative will complement existing dialogue channels, including the "positive agenda" and confidence-building measures.

However, fundamental disagreements persist, particularly regarding the Cyprus Issue, where Turkey rejects the Bicommunal Bizonal Federation (BBF) model solution, with political equality as set out in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis characterized the talks as positive but noted the absence of a common framework for in-depth discussions on maritime disputes. He emphasized Greece's position of strength, citing its military capabilities, economic stability, and international alliances.