Mitsotakis – Erdogan: What they discussed for 45 minutes – Cyprus issue also on the table

The meeting between the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Washington, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, concluded at 23:20 Greek time.

The meeting had started at 22:35 Greek time and lasted a total of 45 minutes. According to reports, the two leaders left together from the room where the allies of NATO member countries were meeting and headed towards a smaller room where their meeting took place.

In this context, they had the opportunity to exchange a few words while walking, although they did not make statements before the meeting began.

Subsequently, the aides of the two leaders entered the room to start the meeting, which provided a prime opportunity for renewing bilateral dialogue. It also “sealed” the extension of the informal Greek-Turkish moratorium for a significant period.

The two leaders, as in other meetings, were accompanied by their two diplomatic advisors, Anna Maria Boura and Akif Çağatay Kılıç, as well as both Foreign Ministers, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan.

The path forward is proving particularly challenging, and as insiders indicate, there is currently no political momentum in Greece like in the previous period. Nevertheless, this hasn’t prevented the systematization of contacts at all levels and progress, especially on the “positive agenda.”

In any case, there is a scheduling pending regarding political dialogue contacts for the autumn, given the recent appointment of new Deputy Foreign Ministers by the neighbor country a few weeks ago.

It is noted that of backstage interests, the two leaders will find themselves on “parallel paths” in Cyprus in the coming days. The Prime Minister, for his part, will attend the ceremonies at the Republic of Cyprus on the eve of July 20th in Nicosia for the sad anniversary of the Turkish invasion, invited by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

On the other hand, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be in the pseudo-state, attending the parade organized, as every year, while making increasingly provocative statements in an attempt to solidify the perspective of a two-state solution. It is obvious that the two leaders discussed this specific issue, even briefly.

Mr. Mitsotakis is the first Greek Prime Minister to visit Cyprus on this sad anniversary, and undoubtedly his presence sends a powerful message.

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