A US State Division spokesperson on Tuesday stated that the US welcomed the restarting of the long-awaited exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey, which can start on January 25 in Ankara.
The spokesperson stated that the US helps “all efforts to cut back tensions” within the Japanese Mediterranean and that the US welcomes the information that the 2 Mediterranean nations, who’ve often been at loggerheads this previous yr and a half, will likely be in talks concerning maritime delimitation points.
“These talks have the potential to contribute to an easing of regional tensions,” the State Division spokesperson added.
The overseas ministries of each nations introduced yesterday that they’d embark on the 61st spherical of talks concerning technical points concerning boundaries on January 25. The talks will likely be held within the Turkish capital of Istanbul.
The 61st first spherical of what are diplomatically termed “Investigative Contacts” will happen in Istanbul on January 25, 2021.
In accordance with diplomatic sources, the Turkish facet contacted Greek officers lat on Monday and prompt that the diplomatic parleys happen in Istanbul on January 25.
Greek officers accepted the invitation, and the much-anticipated talks will happen two weeks from now. Earlier within the day, a minor brouhaha had taken place when it was famous that Turkey had not but invited the Greek facet nor knowledgeable the EU that the talks had been going to happen.
Consternation earlier on Monday
“Thus far, the Greek International Ministry has not obtained any invitation from the Turkish International Ministry concerning the setting of a date for the 61st spherical of the Investigative Contacts,” International Ministry spokesman Alexandros Papaioannou stated in response to a reporter’s query right now.
Nonetheless, earlier within the day, Turkish International Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu stated in an announcement that Turkey was calling on Greece to restart its investigations throughout the month of January.
It’s recalled that the final spherical of talks between the 2 international locations, who’re often at odds, occurred in 2016 in Athens.
“Prepared to reply”
“Greece, as it’s recognized, has expressed its willingness to reply, in case of a related invitation of the Turkish facet, to the premise of Worldwide Regulation with the article of delimiting the EEZ and the continental shelf,” Papaioannou said.
Throughout a previously-scheduled assembly with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Prime Minister Mitsotakis said that the talks are solely “for the one subject we face, which is nothing greater than the definition of maritime zones within the Aegean.”
