Two government planes will be taking Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, along with his delegation, to Ankara, Turkey to meet with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, today in Ankara.
Part of the Greek PM’s delegation is Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (EYP), Themistoklis Demiris, who, according to TO VIMA, has cooperated closely with the Director of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and President Erdogan’s confidant, İbrahim Kalın, on issues surrounding migration and terrorism.
The first plane will carry the EYP Director-General and the two deputy ministers of foreign affairs, Alexandra Papadopoulou and Kostas Fragogiannis. The second plane will be carrying the Prime Minister, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Director of the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Office, Ambassador Anna-Maria Boura and Permanent Representative to NATO Miltiadis Nicolaidis.
The latter is expected to arrive in Ankara at 2 p.m. on Monday. Immediately upon the Prime Minister’s arrival, discussions will commence at the Presidential Complex. Minister Gerapetritis and Ambassadors Boura and Nicolaidis will accompany PM Mitsotakis to the high level meeting.
Common statements are expected, while members of their delegations will also hold discussions on various issues. The Prime Minister’s visit will conclude with a dinner hosted by Erdoğan, followed by a return to Athens.
There will be no visit by the Greek PM to Cappadocia.
The main purpose of the visit is to maintain the positive climate that emerged between the two states after the earthquakes in Turkey.
According to TO VIMA, two low-level, yet significant, political agreements will be signed. The first concerns cooperation on Civil Protection, and the second concerns matters of health. A third private agreement regarding the creation of a Greek-Turkish business forum is also anticipated.
Athens insists that issues related to national sovereignty will be off the table. Nevertheless, given Erdogan’s known unpredictability, the Greek side is prepared to deal with any issues the Turkish President might raise.
In a recent interview the Greek PM gave to Turkish newspaper Milliyet regarding his upcoming visit, PM Mitsotakis described the meeting as an opportunity to assess the progress in the relationship between the countries, and a commitment to further improve it.
“Greek-Turkish relations are complex and laden with history and emotions. This will never change. What we can change is our perspective: instead of viewing an unsolvable puzzle, we should focus on strengthening a positive agenda and seek cooperation between our two countries and peoples,” he said.
“Greece has always resolved differences through dialogue on good-faith and in accordance with International Law as well as the principles of neighborly relations. Greece is not threatening anyone. And I would like to repeat that we are neighbors, not enemies,” he emphasized.
He also expressed his disappointment over Turkey’s recent decision to convert the historic temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque.
He continued that the “channels of communication between the two countries must remain open even during times of tension. I have always been consistent in this, and I have personally supported this approach since the beginning of my first term. I will continue to do so.”
