Greek Prime Minister Calls for Improved Relations with Turkey, Urges End to Aggression

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed a desire to improve relations with Turkey, but emphasized that Turkey needs to abandon its aggressive behavior towards Greece's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two countries remain at odds over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, which affects issues such as irregular migration, mineral rights, and military power projection. Mitsotakis agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to initiate new lines of communication and maintain a period of calm, with high-level talks expected to take place later this year. However, Mitsotakis stressed that improved European-Turkish ties should not come at the expense of efforts to heal Cyprus' ethnic division, and that a Cyprus peace accord should not be left aside.