The meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday forms part of Greece’s broader diplomatic strategy aimed at maintaining a stable and structured dialogue with Turkey, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said in an interview with state broadcaster ERT on Thursday, Feb 12.
Assessing the overall course of Greek-Turkish relations, Gerapetritis noted that meaningful steps have been taken toward improving bilateral ties and strengthening good-neighborly relations, despite longstanding and complex disputes that remain unresolved. While differences are not expected to disappear “as if by magic,” he stressed that dialogue remains the most effective mechanism for managing tensions.
Greece, he underlined, seeks a normal relationship with Turkey, recognizing the inescapable reality of geography. In a fluid and challenging geopolitical environment, tensions must be addressed calmly through institutional channels of communication.
Sharp Drop in Migration Flows
The minister also highlighted developments in migration management, noting a dramatic decline in arrivals to Greece in recent years — from roughly 860,000 arrivals in 2015 to about 21,000 today. Compared to last year alone, arrivals have fallen by approximately 60 percent.
Regarding core bilateral disputes, Gerapetritis reiterated that Greece recognizes only the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as subjects for discussion. Issues of sovereignty, he emphasized, remain non-negotiable. Any process, he added, must be grounded in international law, particularly the law of the sea.
While Turkey participates in talks under the same institutional framework, the minister cautioned that conditions have not yet matured for substantive progress on more complex matters.
Time for Threats to End
Referring to recent government statements, Gerapetritis said it is time for threats to cease, emphasizing that dialogue represents the only realistic path toward peace and stability in the region. The question, he noted, is “if not now, when?” — especially when national sovereignty is involved.
The Ankara meeting reaffirmed the need for continuous communication between the two countries, with Greek diplomacy, he said, prepared for all possible scenarios. He described Greece’s handling of past crises as successful, pointing out that violations in the Aegean have now nearly disappeared without any compromise on sovereign rights.
In previous years, he recalled, as many as 30 violations per day were recorded, creating constant fears of escalation. Today, however, the situation looks markedly different, thanks to systematic tension management and sustained open channels of communication.
