AP
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared that “normality must be the goal in relations between neighbors” when asked by reporters on Friday about Greek-Turkish relations and his meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Budapest a day earlier.
The Greek and Turkish leaders were in the Hungarian capital along with dozens of other European leaders on Thursday for an informal one-day European summit to chart a more common future for the continent. European competitiveness in the global market dominated the summit’s talks.
“I have met with President Erdogan on numerous official occasions, and whenever we have had the opportunity to meet informally, we always exchange polite words. I believe this is essential for neighboring countries, which, despite any significant differences, should maintain good relations,” Mitsotakis remarked.
Commenting on a meeting between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Athens early Friday, the Greek Prime Minister noted that their statements reflected the positive atmosphere between Greece and Turkey.
The Greek leader pointed out that a framework for discussions on the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean has yet to be established.