Fri Nov 08 15:52:34 UTC 2024: ## Turkey and Greece Agree to Continue Dialogue Despite No Breakthrough in Latest Talks

**Athens, Greece** – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, met on Friday in Athens for talks aimed at resolving long-standing disputes that have brought the two countries to the brink of conflict. While no magical solution was reached, both sides expressed willingness to continue dialogue and build understanding on “critical issues”.

Fidan, emphasizing the need to transform Turkey and Greece from “eternal neighbors to eternal friends”, acknowledged the historical opportunity for cooperation. Gerapetritis shared similar sentiments, expressing hope for a “sincere and constructive approach” to address key issues.

The main sticking points remain territorial claims in the Aegean Sea, with Greece advocating for a 22km territorial water limit and Turkey opposing it. Disputes also center around exclusive economic zones in the eastern Mediterranean, where oil and other resources are at stake.

The issue of migrant and asylum seeker management is another crucial point of contention. Greece seeks stricter measures from Turkey to curb migrant smuggling, while overcrowded camps on Greek islands like Samos highlight the humanitarian crisis.

While no concrete agreements were made on these key issues, there was a positive vibe during the talks, according to Al Jazeera’s John Psaropoulos. Discussions centered on the possibility of seeking arbitration from the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

However, both countries differ on the scope of issues to be presented to the court. Greece seeks to focus on continental shelf boundaries while Turkey aims to include other disputes.

Analysts believe the current political climate favors cooperation. Assistant Professor Vehbi Baysan from Turkey’s Ibn Haldun University pointed out the need for collaboration on crucial issues like energy channeling and migration, emphasizing the significance of dialogue at this time.

Despite the lack of immediate breakthroughs, both Turkey and Greece remain committed to continuing dialogue and building a more stable relationship. The path ahead remains challenging, but a shared commitment to dialogue offers a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution of longstanding disputes.

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