Mitsotakis – Erdogan meeting in Ankara

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting yesterday in Ankara, lasting almost 2 hours. They discussed the relations between the two countries and the latest developments in the Middle East and Gaza.

Mr. Mitsotakis discussed the economic matters addressed during the meeting, emphasizing the goal of doubling bilateral transactions over a period of 5 years. He also commended the cooperation between the two countries in the field of immigration.

He also highlighted that the two countries signed memoranda of cooperation in the fields of health and civil protection in response to the shared challenges they face from the climate crisis. Additionally, they discussed a recent initiative allowing Turks to travel to 10 Greek islands, with a visa process that takes only a few minutes.

R.T. Erdogan revealed 1.000+ Hamas members are currently being hospitalized in Turkish hospitals.

Points of contention included the conversion of the Chora Monastery into a mosque, prompting accusations from the Greek side that Turkey had “insulted the character” of a globally significant cultural heritage site.

In response, Turkey criticized Mr. Mitsotakis’s proposal last month to establish “marine parks” in sections of the Ionian and Aegean Seas, deeming it an attempt to undermine the process of normalizing relations.

In conclusion, Mr. Mitsotakis addressed the international developments in the Ukraine war and the conflicts in Gaza. He labeled “Hamas” as a “terrorist organization that does not represent the Palestinian people.” This assertion was challenged by Mr. Erdogan, who countered that “Hamas is not a terrorist organization” but rather “a resistance movement fighting to protect its lands and people.”