The meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens as part of the Turkish president's official visit concluded with the customary joint statements to journalists.
According to initial reports, the meeting went very well, with both sides expressing a willingness to cooperate.
Perhaps the only divisive point in the statements made by the Turkish president was his mention of the "Turkish" minority when referring to the Muslim minority in Thrace.
However, the Greek Prime Minister did not let it slide and, taking the floor, responded to Erdoğan.
"The Turkish minority in Greece and the Greek community in Turkey are integral parts of our cultural wealth. I expressed my expectations for improving the situation of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace," was the Prime Minister's characteristic response.
Mitsotakis' response:
After Erdoğan's speech, Kyriakos Mitsotakis took the floor again and referred to the issue of minorities, saying:
"For me personally, Thrace is an example of coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
The determination of the minority is determined by the Treaty of Lausanne. It is our duty to preserve and ensure the climate of harmonious coexistence.
Greece assures that it will continue working tirelessly towards this direction."
