In a very good atmosphere, as reflected in their joint statements, the meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place in Ankara, who described the Greek Prime Minister as a "very good friend".

The two leaders of Greece and Turkey sent a message of good cooperation and prospects for resolving bilateral problems. In fact, the Turkish president conveyed that both agree that the problems are not insoluble under international law.

For his part, Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated that the only dispute that can be brought before an international judicial body – and in fact on the basis of international law and specifically the law of the sea – is the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ. He pointed out to the Turkish president the need to remove the casus belli.

According to information from government sources, during the meeting between the two leaders, which lasted 1.5 hours, "there was an open discussion and all the issues that have caused disagreements between the two countries were raised."

Mitsotakis and Erdogan continued to review bilateral relations and agreed that maintaining open channels of communication and improving the climate in bilateral relations is in the best interests of both countries and stability in the wider region. International and regional issues were also discussed, with emphasis on Ukraine and the Middle East.

In their statements immediately after the one-on-one meeting, Tayyip Erdogan noted, among other things, regarding the differences in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean: “We hold the position that the issues are not unsolvable on the basis of international law.

"I was pleased to see that we agree with my friend Kyriakos on this issue," he noted. In fact, he added: "We believe that from 2023 onwards, progress will also be made in resolving the related problems in the Aegean."

For his part, the Greek Prime Minister stressed that Athens and Ankara should speak frankly: “Even when we disagree, it is important not to lead to crises and tensions,” he stressed. Regarding the differences, Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized to the Turkish president: “We know that there are important disagreements.

The Greek position remains firm that the delimitation of maritime zones, the continental shelf and the EEZ in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean is the only distinction that can be raised before an international judicial body based on international law and in particular the law of the sea.

At the same time, he conveyed that he sincerely hopes that “circumstances will allow for a development in this direction,” sharing Erdogan’s optimism, adding, addressing the Turkish president: “It is time to remove any threat, formal and substantial, to our relations – if not now, when?”

Mr. Mitsotakis also stressed that "we cannot change geography, but we can make it an ally," he reiterated that Greek Muslims live in harmony in Thrace and invited Erdogan to visit Greece at the upcoming session of the Supreme Cooperation Council.

The Greek Prime Minister, referring to the Cyprus issue, reiterated Athens' consistent position, emphasizing that the UN Secretary-General's initiatives "create a window of opportunity to resume a substantial dialogue from where it was interrupted in 2017, in a process which, of course, must always continue within the framework of Security Council resolutions."