According to information from the Greek side, no meeting will take place between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen. The Turkish president is not expected to travel to the Danish capital to participate in the Summit’s proceedings, according to the same sources.
Particular importance is attributed to the fact that, for the first time, the Greek prime minister openly raised the issue of casus belli (the Turkish threat of war in case of extension of Greek territorial waters) from the podium of the UN General Assembly. As characteristically noted: “You cannot want to enter SAFE (EU Strategic Mechanism) while simultaneously maintaining a threat of war against a European Union member state.”
Regarding the cancellation of the potential meeting, Greek diplomatic sources emphasize there was a genuine reason, as schedule changes for leaders are common at international forums of this type. It is characteristically mentioned that the meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was also cancelled for a similar reason.
It is also clarified that “at the American president’s reception, there was no meeting with Tayyip Erdogan.”
The possibility of Mitsotakis meeting with Trump
Regarding the United States, it is noted that “there is good communication with Donald Trump and we won’t wait long to talk again.” Concerning the meeting with Ms. Guilfoyle, the same information states that “it was an introductory meeting and she seemed to know the region’s issues well.”
Regarding the Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection, it is emphasized that “there will be updates on developments when the timing is appropriate.”
However, it is added that “there was a clear statement from the Cypriot President” and that “it is clear that the Republic of Cyprus maintains active interest.”
The Prime Minister, according to the UN announcement, also discussed Libya in his meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General. They discussed the political process for a stable government emerging from free elections, with Libya determining its country’s future without foreign influences.
“Turkey has no role in the discussion with Libya”
According to information, the Prime Minister told the UN Secretary-General that technical discussions have begun with Libya for EEZ and continental shelf delimitation.
“We are condemned by geography to discuss with Libya, we have opposite coasts. Turkey has no role in this discussion,” information from the Greek side states.
Regarding opposition criticism about the cancellation of the meeting with the Turkish president, the same information notes that “even in times when Erdogan refused to discuss with us, we insisted on keeping open communication channels. This does not mean any retreat from our sovereign rights.”
At the same time, “active field policy” is underlined, such as “marine parks and Greek spatial planning” as well as “confirmed Chevron interest.”
Athens seeks to maintain open communication channels and does not appear concerned about the possibility of Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program, which Greece has already entered.
Information from the Greek side states that “in 2019 Turkey had ordered 100 F-35s. We didn’t have even one upgraded F-16, weren’t in the F-35 program, nor had we bought the Rafales. Today we have 42 upgraded F-16s in VIPER version (out of 82 we will have upon program completion within the next two years), 24 Rafales and are in the F-35 program.”
“We strengthen and fortify the Armed Forces to have significant qualitative advantage. We don’t let others determine our choices. What needs to be done for the country’s security, is being done,” information from the Greek side states.
