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In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that communication channels with Türkiye remain open, even after a planned meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was canceled during the U.N. General Assembly’s high-level week.
Mitsotakis said, "Having an open channel of communication with Türkiye does not mean that we agree on all issues. I have met President Erdogan seven times since I became prime minister. These meetings were not always easy, but I always advocate for discussing problems openly and keeping channels open."
Mitsotakis addressed Türkiye’s concerns over Greece’s hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete, where U.S. energy company Chevron has expressed interest.
"We have nothing to discuss with Türkiye regarding Chevron," he said.
"We are exercising our sovereign rights south of Crete, this is recognized by Chevron, and we will continue on the same path. If this causes discomfort in Türkiye, so be it. C’est la vie, as the French would say," Mitsotakis noted.
Despite disagreements, Mitsotakis stressed that cooperation with Türkiye is still possible where mutual interests align.
"We will continue to engage constructively and try to find projects of mutual interest," he told Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker on Wednesday, highlighting Athens' commitment to diplomacy alongside national interests.
Tourism also emerged as a key area of cooperation. Mitsotakis stated that more than 100,000 Turkish citizens have visited Greece's Eastern Aegean islands over the last two years through an express visa program.
"This is an example of how people-to-people relationships can create positive steps in bilateral relations," he said, adding that Turkish visitors are widely welcomed across Greece.
The Greek prime minister reiterated that open communication does not equate to compromise on sovereignty.
"While we maintain dialogue with Türkiye, we exercise our rights and make decisions based on Greece’s interests," Mitsotakis said, signaling that disagreements on issues such as energy exploration or maritime boundaries will not halt ongoing engagement.
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