In a significant step towards bolstering bilateral relations, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday.
The meeting comes in the wake of Greece’s show of solidarity with Turkey following the catastrophic earthquake that struck southern Turkey last year.
Despite stark differences on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, both leaders have voiced their intent to try and ease relations to curb further instability in the eastern Mediterranean.
“We always approach our discussions with Turkey with confidence and with no illusions that Turkish positions will not change from one moment to the next,” Mr. Mitsotakis told a local broadcaster last week. He underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, especially in times of disagreement.
Still, cautious optimism looms that Monday’s meeting will pave the way for a constructive review of the progress in bilateral relations and areas of cooperation, including the 15 Memoranda of Cooperation signed under the auspices of the Athens Declaration last December.
The upcoming UN General Assembly in New York and the NATO Summit in Washington are also expected to provide additional platforms for these leaders to continue their dialogue on pressing regional issues.