Greece and Turkey are once again setting the table for political dialogue, as Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay visits Athens on Tuesday, 20 January, for talks with his Greek counterpart, Alexandra Papadopoulou.
This will be the fifth meeting between the two delegations under the framework of the Political Dialogue. Expectations are modest, with no surprises or major breakthroughs anticipated in Greek-Turkish relations.
The previous round took place in June in Ankara. At the time, a joint statement noted that the two deputy ministers discussed bilateral relations and reviewed developments since their last meeting, particularly in preparation for the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council, scheduled to be held in Turkey.
Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zohiou reiterated that discussions would follow the familiar agenda: bilateral relations, intervening developments since the last meeting, and preparations for the upcoming High-Level Cooperation Council in Ankara.
According to informed sources, the delegations are not expected to delve into the core dispute over maritime zones. Nevertheless, sensitive issues that have caused friction are likely to be raised. Athens intends to address renewed airspace violations, as well as statements from Turkish officials that have prompted strong reactions in Greece. For its part, the Turkish delegation is expected to bring up issues it considers within its remit, including the Muslim minority in Thrace.
An open question is whether Ankara will also raise the issue of Israel. On the same day as the talks, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz will be in Athens for a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias. Greek-Israeli cooperation has featured prominently in Turkish media, often framed within a broader narrative of efforts to encircle Turkey. Turkish outlets have also focused heavily in recent weeks on remarks by Dendias and on Greece’s defense procurement program.
Overall, the Political Dialogue is expected to focus on maintaining the current atmosphere of calm and “quiet waters” between the two neighbors, despite occasional discord. Preparations for the High-Level Cooperation Council, which many hope will finally take place in mid-February, are likely to dominate the discussions and serve as an additional incentive to keep tensions in check.
The dialogue will be followed on Wednesday by a meeting between Mehmet Kemal Bozay and Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Haris Theoharis, marking the ninth round of talks on the so-called Positive Agenda. These discussions will center on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, customs, tourism, transport, health, sports, social security, research and technology, and business ties, with an eye on tangible deliverables for the forthcoming High-Level Cooperation Council.
