Greek Foreign Ministry denies it received an invitation from Turkey to begin exploratory talks

Replying to a journalist's question, a spokesperson of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexandros Papaioannou stated the following:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received no invitation so far from the Turkish Foreign Ministry on setting the date for the 61st round of exploratory contacts.

"Greece, as is well known, has expressed its willingness to respond, in case of a relevant invitation from the Turkish side, on the basis of International Law regarding the delimitation of the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone] and the continental shelf."

Earlier today, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said “We call on Greece for the first meeting of exploratory contacts in January."

The call by Çavuşoğlu to start talks with Greece was also reiterated by Turkish presidential spokesman, İbrahim Kalın, as reported by Greek City Times.