Erdoğan says ready to meet with Greek PM Mitsotakis to resolve standoff over eastern Mediterranean
"Could there be a meeting with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis? What's essential is what we discuss and in what framework. We can meet if there is goodwill. We can talk via videoconference or meet in a third country. Turkey will not be the party fleeing the table," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul following the Friday prayers.
- World
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 09:26 | 18 September 2020
- Modified Date: 01:04 | 19 September 2020
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday said Turkey was ready to meet with Greece's leader to resolve the standoff over energy exploration in contested waters in the eastern Mediterranean.
The search for gas and oil in the region has sparked a row that has seen the two NATO neighbours stage rival air and navy drills in strategic waters between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete.
"Could there be a meeting with Greek Prime Minister (Kyriakos) Mitsotakis? What's essential is what we discuss and in what framework," Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul after Friday prayers.
"We can meet if there is goodwill. We can talk via videoconference or meet in a third country," Erdoğan said, adding that Turkey would not be the party fleeing the table.