
On this photograph supplied by way of Turkish Presidency, Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, talks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan all the way through their assembly in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

On this photograph supplied by way of Turkish Presidency, Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, proper, talks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan all the way through their assembly in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, heart, talks to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, after attending a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.
Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, heart left, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, heart proper, go away after attending a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, heart, attends a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis lighting fixtures a candle as he arrives to wait a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, proper, sits in entrance of Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, as he leads a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, heart, is surrounded by way of safety guards, as he leaves after attending a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.

Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 5th proper, talks to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, 5th left, after attending a rite for Orthodox Christians on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a unprecedented assembly between the neighbors who’ve been at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.
ISTANBUL (AP) — The leaders of Greece and Turkey held talks over lunch in Istanbul on Sunday in a unprecedented assembly between the neighboring nations, which were at odds over maritime and effort problems, the standing of Aegean islands and migration.
Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned bilateral and world family members in addition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a commentary from the Turkish presidency’s communications directorate stated.
“Turkey and Greece have a distinct accountability within the Eu safety structure which has modified with Russia’s assault on Ukraine,” the commentary stated, including that each nations will have to building up cooperation and “center of attention on sure agendas” for regional advantages.
Greece and Turkey are nominal NATO allies however have strained family members over competing maritime boundary claims that impact power exploration rights within the jap Mediterranean. Tensions flared in the summertime of 2020 over exploratory drilling rights in spaces within the Mediterranean Sea the place Greece and Cyprus declare their very own unique financial zone, resulting in a naval standoff. Turkey additionally claims Greece is violating world agreements by way of militarizing islands within the Aegean Sea.
Since then, Greece has launched into a big army modernization program. Officers from each nations resumed exploratory talks in 2021 after a five-year pause to put the groundwork for formal negotiations to start out, however have not made a lot development. At Sunday’s assembly, the 2 leaders agreed to stay communique channels open “regardless of disagreements” and enhance bilateral family members, the Turkish commentary stated.