Diplomacy and international cooperation are critical factors in the political scene of the eastern Mediterranean, especially as the summit between the leaders of Greece and Turkey is being prepared. The recent meeting between the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, was an important step towards the preparation of the upcoming meeting between Prime Ministers Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which will take place in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly of Nations (GC/UN). Also, Fidan's position regarding the Cyprus issue shows Turkey's priorities for its relations with the European Union.
Gerapetritis-Fidan meeting: Strategy and Objectives
On September 3, 2024, the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan respectively, met in an important diplomatic meeting whose main objective was to prepare the upcoming summit meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries. According to Kathimerini (September 4, 2024), the meeting focused on the management of bilateral relations and the preparation of issues to be discussed at the United Nations General Assembly.
This meeting is expected to be critical for the direction of Greece-Turkey relations, as the two leaders will discuss a range of issues including regional developments, energy security and security cooperation. The preparation of the meeting at the General Assembly/UN indicates the seriousness with which the two countries approach the negotiations and the challenges that may arise.
Fidan on the Cyprus issue: Theses and Contradictions
During the meeting, Hakan Fidan expressed Turkey's position on the Cyprus issue and its effects on Turkey's relations with the European Union. According to SKAI (September 4, 2024), Fidan argued that the Cyprus issue should not negatively affect Turkey's relations with the EU. Instead, Turkey argues that the Cyprus issue should be treated as a separate issue from Turkey's relations with the European Union and that the two sides should focus on improving their economic and political relations.
This position reflects Turkey's desire to separate the Cyprus negotiations from other diplomatic processes and strengthen its cooperation with the EU, despite existing disagreements. This position may have serious effects on Turkey-EU relations, as well as on the course of negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Conclusions
The Gerapetritis-Fidan meeting and the upcoming Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting highlight the willingness of the two countries to manage their relations through negotiations and diplomacy. At the same time, Turkey's positions regarding the Cyprus issue show the priority it gives to upgrading its relations with the European Union, separating the challenges of the Cyprus issue from its economic and political aspirations. The upcoming consultations and diplomatic moves are expected to be decisive for the course of relations between Greece and Turkey, as well as for the resolution of regional issues affecting the wider region.
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