During a video-conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan put on the table a list of demands that would “facilitate” him to defuse tensions with Greece.
He said that Turkey is ready to launch exploratory talks with Greece and appreciated Germany’s efforts for mediation.
He reportedly underlined that from now on, further negotiations will depend on the steps taken by Greece.
Erdogan said if solid steps in goodwill toward the customs union agreement, visa exemption and migration deal are taken, EU-Turkey relations would once again gain a positive outlook.
According to Greek newspaper ethnos, Erdogan asked from Merkel and Michel
EU Visa for Turkish citizens
Customs Union with EU
More money for the refugees hosted in Turkey
Open TV said that Erdogan he also asked for “co-exploitation of the Aegean Sea with Greece, setting a median line for gas research and Search and Rescue missions.”
Source (in Greek) from @opentvgr news 👇 pic.twitter.com/zpvB7S0NNF
— George Mastropavlos (@g_mastropavlos) September 22, 2020
The Cyprus issue was discussed as well, and Erdogan proposed a regional conference with all Mediterranean coastal states, including the self-appointed administration of the Turkish occupied Northern Cyprus that has not be diplomatically recognized by any state of the world, except from Turkey. He made the same proposal also while addressing the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday.
While it is unclear what Merkel and Michel promised to Erdogan short after the video conference the Turkish Presidency said that Turkey is ready to launch exploratory talks with Greece.
Greece confirmed that the two countries agreed to resume “exploratory contacts“, however, it did not announced a date, merely saying “in the future.” The contacts were suspended on the part of Turkey in 2016.
Meanwhile, military delegations from Turkey and Greece have met for the fifth time as part of a NATO-led initiative to discuss de-confliction mechanisms in the Eastern Mediterranean. In a statement, the Turkish Defense Ministry added that the next round is planned to be held next week. Aim of the talks aim to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the region, the Ministry said.
Athens is reportedly concerned that Erdogan appears determined for a range of issues to be broached in the exploratory contacts – way over and above confidence-building measures and de-escalation tactics.
Turkish daily Hurriyet reported on Wednesday of an upcoming video-conference between Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis before the EU Summit that has be postponed for October 1-2, as EUCO President went into self-isolation due to a Covid-19 case in his office.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas has reportedly said such a conference only possible under certain conditions.
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did you mean defuse rather than diffuse?
It’s a constant ploy by Turkey to acquire illegal concessions. Why even bother.
Best thing that Greece can do is wait until January when a new US president is sworn in and then end Turkey’s territorial ambitions once and for all.
The US embassy’s statements coming out of Turkey have the corrupt Trumps little fingerprints all over it and not to be relied on. His puts his interests above his nation’s. The EU is also foolish if they dare pay Erdogan to keep refugees that he creates after he tried to extort at Europe’s border.
This aggressive Jihad dictator can not be allowed to go on like this.
someone needs to put Erdogan in his damn place, preferably getting him OUT OF OFFICE and in jail for what he does and threatens, and for the war he wants to wage, and “exploratory talks” over regions that were never and will never be part of Turkey. Why on earth would we want to grant them EU status let alone give them visas for free-reign in Europe when they’re trying to provoke and use manipulation and force to get it?! It’s madness.
i notice Turkey is not offering Greece co-exploitation of its country…..perhaps Greece should demand this on Good Faith grounds……
love it , give them nothing , take them no where , call his bluff .