High-level visit from Greece to Turkey: “Unmissable opportunity”
The visit of Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Yerapetritis to Turkey was interpreted by the Greek public opinion as one of the main steps to be taken for the resolution of the problems between the two countries.
The visit of the Greek Foreign Minister to Turkey was widely covered and welcomed in the country’s press.
The visit of Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Yerapetritis to Turkey was interpreted by the Greek public opinion as one of the main steps to be taken for the resolution of the problems between the two countries.
The Greek press pointed out that Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Yerapetritis will discuss important issues in Turkish-Greek relations during his meeting with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara today and described this meeting as part of the preparatory process for the planned meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis in New York this month.
The Greek press also referred to the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting scheduled to be held in Greece in the fall, and considered the meeting in Ankara as the beginning of a long-term negotiation process.
A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH FROM EASY TO DIFFICULT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
“The question is whether there will be anything of substance that will break the dangerous impasse that has been going on for 50 years,” said a commentary by Yannis Kartalis in the weekend edition of To Vima newspaper, evaluating the planned Fidan-Yerapetritis and Erdogan-Michotakis meetings.
THE GOAL OF RAPPROCHEMENT IN TRADE RELATIONS
In a commentary by Kaki Bali in the weekend edition of Avgi, Athens and Ankara’s rapprochement process is taking a path that goes from easy to difficult.
Bali stated that Kostas Frangoyannis, Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs, who is one of the important figures shaping the positive agenda between the two countries, aims to improve bilateral trade relations and that Frangoyannis also plans to reshape the Ipsala Border Crossing.
“There are still common interests and the intention to cooperate and Frangoyannis promises to strengthen this,” Bali said, adding that business people in the two countries have established strong relations in the past years.
“RELAY RACE” FOR FINAL RECONCILIATION
“Frangoyannis’ job seems to be easier, as he needs to prepare certain steps to show that both the Turkish and Greek peoples will reap tangible benefits from cooperation on this positive agenda,” Proto Thema newspaper wrote in its analysis by Makis Polatos.
Polatos described the Erdogan-Michotakis meeting scheduled for September 17-18 in New York as “part of the relay race between Athens and Ankara with the desire for reconciliation.”
“UNMISSABLE OPPORTUNITY”
In an article for Ta Nea newspaper, Prof. Panayotis Ioakimidis Ioakimidis, a former advisor to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an expert in Political Science and Public Administration, noted that the current conditions in Turkey, Greece and geopolitically in European and international circles constitute a unique opportunity for the resolution of the problems between Turkey and Greece. “If this opportunity is not seized and missed, we will have to wait another 50 years and time will work against Greece,” Ioakimidis said.
In Kathimerini newspaper, in an analysis by Vasilis Nedos, it was stated that Yerapetritis and Fidan will meet in order to resolve some of the problems in the two relations, “Despite the logical reservations expressed from the moment Mitsotakis and Erdogan met in Vilnius, the Greek Prime Ministry did not hide that Athens’ goal is to go to the International Court of Justice to resolve bilateral issues regarding the continental shelf and maritime jurisdiction.”
High-level visit from Greece to Turkey: “Unmissable opportunity”
