TURKEY-State Visit Seeks To Repair Strained Relations

Following a meeting between Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Greek leader has claimed that it is 'extremely significant that Greece and Turkey progress on a calm path', while also announcing that Greece will revive the 7-day tourist visa for 10 of its islands in a show of good will. The two leaders signed a joint declaration on ''friendship and good neighbourly relations', while Mistotakis announced that the two sides 'will continue meetings to widen the positive agenda and we may come closer to demarcation of exclusive economic zones and the continental shelf'.

• Erdogan is currently in Athens as apart of a state visit that is seen as an attempt to foster better relations between the two historic rivals following years of ties sitting in the deep freeze.
• The Guardian quotes Ziya Meral at SOAS: "This trip is an expression of that easing, as the last thing that Europe or NATO needs is an escalation between two members over crucial sea routes, trade or energy. For the European Union, having Greece or Turkey working together on issues like crime, narcotics, and security is a good thing, as these are key areas."
• Al Jazeera reports that according to a senior Greek diplomat, the thorniest issues related to maritime borders and the division of Cyprus will not be discussed. The disputed location of maritime boundaries related to the continental shelf has a significant impact on both nations' hydrocarbon exploration and drilling rights in the East Med.