Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York on Tuesday, September 23, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, according to government officials.
The meeting comes after weeks of preparations between the two governments, following tensions sparked by a Turkish NAVTEX announcing research by the vessel Piri Reis in the Aegean.
The Piri Reis’ presence in Izmir Bay late Thursday night suggested diplomatic channels remain active, though Athens remains cautious. Officials say that if the Piri Reis begins Aegean surveys, Ankara would send a signal that could derail the leaders’ meeting. Erdogan, meanwhile, is expected to focus much of his UN appearance on condemning Israel.
The Cyprus issue will also surface. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is set to meet Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on September 27th. It is worth noting that UN Secretary General appears determined to attempt new talks despite the collapse at Crans-Montana in 2017.
