Vilnius

State Minister Akis Skertsos said on Monday that Greece and Turkey have taken a "first step" towards normalizing bilateral relations following the recent meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Vilnius. However, he emphasized that the Greek government will not make any concessions on the nation's "red lines."

A period of four months is expected to determine whether Greece and Turkey can finally turn the page on the frequent periods of extreme tension and pave the way for an appeal to the International Court of Justice at The Hague to settle the basic bilateral dispute over the delimitation of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek is expected to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers' summit in India.

Şimşek will be accompanied by Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan.

"With a strong political mandate and with our important international capital, I think the time has come to face squarely the wounds of the past and the challenges of the future," says George Gerapetritis in the first, exclusive interview he has given as Foreign Minister.

Greek officials said Friday that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis never discussed issues that concern Greek citizens or the country's sovereign rights with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed that the "problems of Western Thrace" was the "main issue" he raised with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius on Wednesday.

"Ukraine insists on waging this war. But it should also be clear that the whole of Europe is paying the bill. And this war has many dimensions.

I say again, it is not only purely military - it has an economic, social and political dimension. It is a threat and a risk to all of Europe."

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has engaged in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, reflecting on the outcomes of the NATO leaders' summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

The accord allowing for Ukrainian grain to be exported via the Black Sea, crucial in easing a global food crisis sparked by the Russian invasion, has been the subject of grueling talks to get Moscow to agree to its renewal.

Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey's ruling AK Party, has reiterated Ankara's demand for Greece to demilitarize its eastern Aegean islands. He issued a bellicose warning, stating that there would be consequences if Greece fails to comply.