Recep

Greek diplomacy is preparing for the conclusion of the meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius (July 11-12), which will indicate whether the initiatives taken in the coming period are likely to lead to a resumption of the existing channels (confidence building measures and exploratory contacts).

In a positive move for farmers, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced the purchase price for barley and wheat that farmers have long been waiting for.

"Our producers will receive 9,250 liras per ton for bread wheat and 7,500 liras per ton for barley," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said following a cabinet meeting on June 6.

If Greece were a stock, its value would be rising, says NATO's former Supreme Allied Commander (2009-2013), Admiral James Stavridis. In an interview with Kathimerini he emphasizes not only the significance of Greece's geographical position but also the role of the Greek-American community.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday extended his congratulations to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his re-election and emphasized Cyprus' preparedness to resume discussions on the Cyprus issue, picking up from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017.

Ahead of Sunday's election in Greece's eastern neighbor across the Aegean, messages from Turkey arriving in Athens in recent days indicate additional reductions in military exercises.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has expressed his hope that Turkey will relinquish its revisionist aspirations and actively participate in a meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving lingering disputes with Greece. 

Crunch Time

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during his election campaign rally in Istanbul, Turkey, 07 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 24 promised to heal the wounds of the victims of powerful earthquakes that hit Türkiye's southern region and claimed more than 50,000 lives.

"Together we will remove the traces of this disaster," Erdoğan said at a ceremony in quake-hit Hatay province.

As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be hosting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington on Wednesday, the Biden administration will be moving ahead with its stated intention to supply Turkey with 40 new F-16s and modernization kits to upgrade 80 of its older ones.

Turkey and the United States will aim to smooth out a series of disagreements between the NATO allies when the Turkish foreign minister visits Washington this week. But expectations that outstanding issues can be resolved are low.