Athens, January 20, 2026 – Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou of Greece and her Turkish counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, met in Athens today for the 5th round of bilateral Political Dialogue consultations, a mechanism established between the two countries in 2023.
The discussions, held at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, placed bilateral relations at the centre of the agenda. The two deputies reviewed developments since their previous meeting in Ankara in June 2025, noting continued positive trends in several areas of practical cooperation, including trade, tourism, cultural exchanges, and confidence-building measures. The sustained period of calm in the Aegean was highlighted as a valuable foundation worth preserving.
The meeting featured an extensive and candid exchange of views on recent regional and international developments, covering topics such as the situation in the Middle East, energy security, migration flows, and cooperation within the NATO framework. While differences in positions were acknowledged, both sides stressed the importance of maintaining open channels of communication to better understand each other’s perspectives and explore possibilities for collaboration where feasible.
A significant portion of the talks was dedicated to preparations for the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC), which is scheduled to be held in Türkiye in the coming period. Diplomatic sources indicate the summit—bringing together Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—is likely to take place in the first half of February 2026, most probably in Ankara. The HLCC is regarded as a key opportunity to consolidate gains and set new directions across the full spectrum of bilateral ties.
Following the consultations, a joint statement was issued: “The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to further expand bilateral and international cooperation.”
The Athens talks form part of a broader diplomatic sequence aimed at sustaining momentum in Greece-Türkiye relations. Tomorrow, January 21, the same deputies will co-chair the 9th round of the Positive Agenda framework, focusing on technical-level cooperation in low-politics fields.
The ongoing dialogue process continues to be viewed as an essential tool for managing differences, reducing tensions, and promoting stability in the Eastern Mediterranean amid persistent regional challenges.
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