Greek, Turkish Foreign Ministers to Discuss Maritime Disputes in Athens Meeting

ATHENS, Greece - Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan are scheduled to meet in Athens on November 8th, aiming to address long-standing bilateral issues, including the contentious demarcation of an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the eastern Mediterranean.

This meeting, confirmed by diplomatic sources on Tuesday, comes amidst a cautious thaw in relations between the NATO allies, whose history is fraught with tension. Disputes over airspace, maritime jurisdiction, energy resources, and the divided island of Cyprus have plagued Greece-Turkey relations for decades.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently expressed optimism regarding improving ties with Greece, highlighting the upcoming Gerapetritis-Fidan meeting as an opportunity to find common ground on issues such as maritime zones and airspace.

The foreign ministers have been entrusted with exploring the feasibility of initiating official talks regarding the demarcation of the continental shelf and EEZ, a crucial step towards determining rights over potential gas reserves and infrastructure projects in the region.

A high-level cooperation council, intended to evaluate the progress made, is anticipated to convene in Ankara in January.

This development coincides with an informal meeting between the leaders of Greek and Turkish Cyprus, alongside UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, scheduled for Tuesday in New York. The meeting aims to address the ongoing division of Cyprus, which was split following a Turkish invasion in 1974. Despite efforts, reunification talks have stalled since 2017.