Turkey, Greece hold 62nd round of talks as Erdoğan says Turkey's position not changed

Photo: AA

Turkey and Greece held the 62nd round of talks in Athens yesterday (March 16).

The consultative talks are focused on resolving bilateral disputes in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, including achieving fair and equitable settlements to issues in the Aegean that began in 2002.

The previous round of talks was held in İstanbul on January 25, which marked the first direct talks between the two countries in nearly five years after Athens suspended them following the 60th round in March 2016.

Bilateral talks continued in the form of political consultations but did not return to the exploratory framework.

Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday his country will not step back from its "decisive position on the Eastern Mediterranean issue."

Speaking at a joint news conference with members of the Presidential Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Turkish capital Ankara, Erdoğan said Turkey is in a decision-making position in the Eastern Mediterranean and "its determined stance remains the same."

No concessions are possible for Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, he said.

Responding to a question on diplomatic contacts between Ankara and Cairo, Erdoğan said Egypt's people do not contradict Turkey. (VK)