Gerapetritis – Fidan: “Our goal is to bring the two nations closer together”

"Our position on Cyprus is clear – we will continue to support Türkiye's EU accession process," said Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. "A historic opportunity to maintain the positive atmosphere," said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan - The next round of talks will take place in Athens on December 2nd and 3rd

“Our goal is to bring the two peoples closer,” said Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis after he meets with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.

“There were difficult moments over the past year, but there was also an immediate and sincere communication channel. Our contacts are becoming more regular,” the Greek minister added.

As Gerapetritis mentioned, the next round of Greek-Turkish dialogue will take place on December 2-3.

Currently, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, are holding a press conference following the conclusion of their meeting and discussions between the two countries’ delegations at the Foreign Ministry.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived at the Foreign Ministry a few minutes ago to meet with his Greek counterpart Giorgios Gerapetritis.

According to the official schedule, there will be a private meeting between the two ministers, followed by extended talks between the delegations, and at around 12:30 p.m., joint statements will be made and the Turkish Foreign Minister’s visit will conclude with a working lunch.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a morning meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens, aiming to find common ground between the two countries, with a primary focus on the delimitation of the continental shelf. The goal of this meeting is to foster a constructive climate for dialogue, even if disagreements persist.

The Pursuit of a Compromise

The discussions are taking place within a complex international context, and both sides seek to keep open the possibility for further negotiations. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Budapest, in an informal setting seen as a positive sign for bilateral relations. Gerapetritis expressed hope for a productive dialogue with his Turkish counterpart, underlining Greece’s commitment to constructive diplomatic engagement.

While the meeting carries the significant weight of addressing core issues in Greek-Turkish relations, it also underscores each side’s differing perspectives. Greece is focused solely on resolving the continental shelf issue and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), viewing this as the sole dispute eligible for resolution in international courts. Türkiye, however, favors a “holistic approach” to dialogue, arguing that a variety of “interconnected” issues—such as airspace, territorial waters, demilitarization of certain zones, and minority rights—should also be addressed.