Μake us preferred on Google Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is in Ireland to participate in the informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers, known as the “Gymnich.”
The ministers are expected to discuss developments in the wider Middle East, the war in Ukraine and ways to strengthen the effectiveness of the EU’s external action.
Greece to raise Turkish actions
Gerapetritis also plans to raise what Greece describes as increasing Turkish provocations, citing recent violations and other actions in the field.
Among the issues expected to be discussed is a Turkish NAVTEX issued by the Antalya station and valid through September 15. According to the Greek side, the notice reserves an area under Greek jurisdiction for scientific research by the Turkish research vessel R/V TÜBİTAK MARMARA.
Greece has already issued an anti-NAVTEX rejecting the Turkish notice.
Foreign ministers from Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Ukraine and the United Kingdom are also attending the informal meeting as guests of the Irish presidency and are expected to be briefed on what Greece describes as the escalation of actions by Ankara.
Dendias raises security concerns
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias also said Tuesday that he intends to discuss the issue with his EU counterparts.
Speaking after participating in the EU’s informal meeting of defense ministers in Dublin, Dendias said he wanted to explain “the challenge posed by revisionism in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean, Thrace, the European space, European defense, European security and the security of European citizens.”
The defense ministers also discussed Ukraine and the EU’s strategy for space in the areas of security and defense. During a working lunch, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas briefed the ministers on the situation in the Middle East and maritime security.
Possible Gerapetritis-Fidan meeting
Gerapetritis also addressed the possibility of future Greek-Turkish meetings at the ministerial and leadership levels.
Asked by journalist Giorgos Papachristos about a possible meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in late September, Gerapetritis said there was currently no prospect of such a meeting.
He did, however, leave open the possibility of a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers.
Gerapetritis said a one-on-one meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in New York had not been scheduled, but added that “it is very likely that there will be some meeting in the coming period.”
