10.02.2026 18:29
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is coming to Ankara tomorrow with a large delegation consisting of 10 ministers and one deputy minister to attend the sixth meeting of the Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council. The visit, which will take place at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is noteworthy in terms of demonstrating Athens' willingness to keep dialogue channels open with Ankara.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is coming to Ankara tomorrow to attend the sixth meeting of the Turkey–Greece High-Level Cooperation Council. The visit, which will take place at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is expected to address all dimensions of the bilateral relations between the two countries. According to the Greek press, Athens' main goal is to keep communication channels open despite the contentious issues.
WIDE AGENDA AT THE HLC MEETING
Presidency Communication Director Burhanettin Duran stated in a statement on February 5 that the Turkey–Greece relations would be comprehensively evaluated at the High-Level Cooperation Council Meeting. Duran expressed that discussions would include not only bilateral relations but also regional and global developments, and that various texts aimed at strengthening cooperation would be on the agenda.
10 MINISTERS ACCOMPANY MITSOTAKIS
According to reports in the Greek press, a large delegation will accompany Mitsotakis on his visit to Ankara. It was reported that a total of 10 ministers and one deputy minister from critical areas such as foreign affairs, economy, infrastructure, security, migration, culture, and education would be part of the delegation. This situation was interpreted as an indication of the importance Athens attaches to the meeting.
GREEK PRESS: EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT HIGH
The English publication of Kathimerini, eKathimerini, emphasized in its assessment of the summit that the main issues in the Aegean are in a "frozen" state. The report stated that there has been no change in the positions of the parties regarding the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone boundaries, which are of central importance for Greece, and therefore a more realistic and cautious approach has been adopted in Athens.
The report also pointed out that developments in the south and east of Turkey are higher on President Erdoğan's agenda, indicating that Ankara plays a key role in the future of Syria.
EMPHASIS ON "WAVES IN CALM WATERS"
Ta Nea newspaper wrote that some statements from Ankara before the meeting have caused "waves" in the "calm atmosphere" in the Aegean. The report included statements from AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik regarding the demilitarization of Greek islands and evaluations from Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The newspaper noted that while both sides emphasize their willingness for dialogue, such statements are being closely monitored in Athens.
MESSAGE FROM ATHENS: COMMUNICATION CHANNELS MUST REMAIN OPEN
A report from CNN Greece stated that ahead of the Mitsotakis–Erdoğan meeting, Athens places importance on keeping dialogue channels open to prevent possible tensions. It was reported that Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lana Zohiu said that the determination of exclusive economic zone boundaries was not on the meeting agenda, but could be addressed if it comes up. The report also mentioned that Nikos Dendias would not attend the meeting and would be holding contacts in Brussels.