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The purpose of the meeting is to keep communication channels open at the highest levels, so that the relationship between the two leaders improves and there is cooperation between the two countries.
This morning, the first government plane will land in Ankara with Deputy Foreign Ministers K. Fragogianni and A. Papadopoulou, responsible for political dialogue and agenda, who will prepare the final details. Four months of diplomatic work have prevented something unexpected from happening that would disrupt the meeting between the two countries.
The meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdogan will start at 16:00 where the diplomatic advisors of the two leaders Anna-Maria Bura and Akif Tsagatai Kilic, the two foreign ministers Gerapetritis and Fidan and two translators will participate.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, new Head of the National Intelligence Service Themistocles Demiris, National Security Advisor Thanos Dokos de Aristotelia Peloni, Director of the International Strategy Office will also be part of the meeting.
At 17:30, joint statements to the media of the two leaders are expected to take place, while the meeting is expected to last until 19:30.
The purpose of the meeting is to keep communication channels open at the highest levels, so that the relationship between the two leaders improves and there is cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, all issues of the bilateral agenda are expected to be discussed and the next meeting in the political dialogue, the agenda (the new meeting is expected to take place in October) and confidence building measures will be determined.
The next meeting of the two leaders is still expected to be confirmed during the UN General Assembly in New York next September, while the two leaders are also expected to participate in the NATO Summit to be held in July in Washington.
The meeting in New York is expected to be more critical, but as long as the good relationship is maintained there will be an opportunity to discuss the essence of the Greek-Turkish disputes.
Today's meeting will be preceded by the signing of agreements on political issues such as in the field of cooperation, in the field of civil defense (memorandum on cooperation and mutual aid in cases of natural disasters) and according to information, the objective is still for bilateral trade to reach to 10 billion dollars.
The Turkish side also wants to discuss the visa program, which is already being implemented in ten Greek islands, the continuation and extension of the process.
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The joint statements are expected to reflect some of the recent problems in Greek-Turkish relations. Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to express his displeasure at the conversion of the Chora Monastery into a mosque and will request the annulment of the decision. Regarding the issue of marine parks, the Greek side emphasizes that respecting the law and with a strong basis in its sovereignty and sovereign rights, it will continue normally with its planning, insisting on the positions it also has on the issue of Cyprus.
On the other hand, according to Turkish diplomatic sources, the Turkish president is expected to refer to the Muslim minority in Thrace, raising issues of education. If asked, the prime minister is ready to answer that Thrace is an example of the coexistence of Christians and Muslims and that this is a dominant issue for Greece, which supports equality.
It is expected that there will be disagreements about the events in the Middle East where both sides have different views.
However, government sources indicate that the reactivation of contacts and communication channels between Greece and Turkey in recent months has already had measurable results:
- Visa facilitation for Turkish citizens is already being implemented in 10 islands of the Eastern Aegean.
- On the ground, the consolidation of a positive climate is reflected in almost zero delinquency.
- There is better cooperation with the Turkish authorities in the Migration Department and an overall reduction in flows, despite ups and downs.
The prime minister's colleagues point out that the disagreements apparently remain. It is important that they do not lead to crises. They say that the fact that we do not agree, does not mean that we do not discuss and take steps to create a better climate and invest in the positive agenda./ CNN.gr
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