Erdogan makes talks difficult

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to tell reporters that in his meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO summit at Vilnius he brought up the demilitarization of Greece's eastern Aegean islands and Greek officials' subsequent denials are proof of how difficult it will be for Athens and Ankara to reach their stated goals to find common ground, reduce tensions and, if possible, agree to the arbitration of the International Court in The Hague.

Erdogan made his claims at the same moment that he ordered two amphibious planes and a helicopter to assist Greece in fighting wildfires, a gesture of goodwill and appreciation for Greece's assistance after the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey in February.

Seasoned diplomats in Athens said that the important thing is to focus on the essential above-stated goals.

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