Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set for a quick six-hour visit to Athens on Friday, during which he and his delegation will engage in a tightly planned itinerary.
Mr. Fidan, along with top Turkish diplomats and ministry officials, will arrive in the Greek capital via a government jet, as no direct flight connects Ankara to Athens.
Upon arrival at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in central Athens, Mr. Fidan and his delegation will be welcomed with a notable gesture: the Turkish flag will be hoisted alongside the Greek and EU flags in recognition of the foreign dignitary’s visit.
Mr. Fidan will then engage in a one-on-one discussion with Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Giorgos Gerapetritis, which is expected to be the most substantial part of his short visit.
While substantial agreements may not be reached, both sides are expected to reiterate their positions, particularly on issues that Greece considers core to its national sovereignty—a topic the current Greek government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has stated is not open for negotiation.
Instead, the focus of this meeting will likely be on preparations for an upcoming “High-Level Cooperation Council” (HLCC) meeting, which brings together ministers from both countries and is set to take place in Ankara early next year.
Following their private talks, Mr. Fidan and Mr. Gerapetritis will be joined by their respective diplomatic teams and aides for an extended meeting.
They are expected to review progress on a series of 15 bilateral agreements signed over the past year in areas such as tourism, energy, trade, research, education, and transport. These agreements, witnessed by Mr. Mitsotakis and Turkish President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are largely in the implementation phase.
Mr. Gerapetritis will host a working lunch for Mr. Fidan in the Ministry’s VIP dining hall, concluding the Turkish delegation’s brief visit to Athens with no other scheduled meetings or tours.