Andreas Robopoulos, a journalist, Alexandros Despotopoulos, an international economist, and Kostas Iatridis, a retired general and defence analyst, spoke on the morning show "Society Hour MEGA" about the upcoming meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while the Turkish ambassador made exclusive statements to MEGA.
The meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdogan in the framework of the Supreme Cooperation Council of the two countries will take place on December 7 in Athens and not in Thessaloniki, as originally planned.
The meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council (SCC) of the two countries brings Greece-Turkey relations even closer to improving.
The SCC meeting was agreed upon during Kyriakos Mitsotakis' meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Vilnius last July, along with the activation of multiple channels of communication between the two countries.
The meeting seeks to signal the mutual will to cooperate for the benefit of the two countries and to normalise relations in a spirit of mutual sincerity and good neighbourly relations.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit the country on the same day as he will not stay overnight while the ministers will each see their counterparts in the morning. The foreign ministers, diplomatic representatives, and the two prime ministers will meet at the Maximou Mansion, followed by a press conference and a lunch meeting.
According to reports, Erdogan is not expected to visit Thrace, but one of his ministers may do so.
Which ministers will participate
On the Greek side, ministers will participate in the meeting of the SCC:
- Foreign Affairs: George Gerapetritis (together with Alexandra Papadopoulou & Kostas Fragogiannis),
- Defence: Nikos Dendias,
- Immigration: Dimitris Kairidis,
- Culture: Dimitris Kriidis, Minister of Culture,
- Tourism: Olga Kefalogianni,
- Finance: Kostis Hatzidakis,
- Kossos Gakisakisakis: Kyriakos Pierrakakis.
And from Turkey:
- Foreign Affairs: Hakan Fidan,
- Defence: Yasar Güler,
- Interior: Ali Yerlikaya,
- Tourism - Culture: Mehmet Nuri Ersoy,
- Finance: Mehmet Sismek,
- Energy - Technology: Alparslan Bairaktar,
- Education: Yusuf Tekin.
The Turkish Ambassador to Greece
The Turkish Ambassador, Chaghatai Erchijias, visited Greece for the upcoming meeting between Erdogan and Mitsotakis and made exclusive statements to MEGA.
"Over the last century, Greek-Turkish relations have had ups and downs. But this year is a year of positive climate in our relations. Our leaders, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mr. Mitsotakis, have met twice in the last two months and on the occasion of the UN General Assembly in New York and our President will visit Athens on December 7. We, as Turkey, wish to develop our relations with Greece in every field.
The issues to be discussed
Alexandros Despotopoulos, an internationalist, said that Erdogan does not want to open a front with Greece. I hope that in the near future both similar cultural events will increase.
"He has nothing to gain but he will lose. He is pushing the US for F-16s and wants to give a positive signal. Recently there have been attempts to get agreements. I don't think we will touch on important issues. Don't expect Turkey to change tactics. It has not changed the doctrine of the Blue Homeland. What we are promoting are low-political issues."
Kostas Iatridis, a retired general and defense analyst, said that Erdogan, when he raises his voice, has a domestic problem.
"Lately he has been 'eating' doors. He is cornered and raising the nationalist voice because he has an internal problem. All four states must agree on the Eurofighter. At the moment Germany does not agree."
