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Many Meetings in Vilnius [InTime News]
Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. The main focus of the NATO summit in Vilnius may have been the alliance’s northern enlargement and its eastern future, but on its sidelines, there were several meetings about southern reconciliation. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, fresh off their domestic victories, met on Wednesday and set a course to repair bilateral relations after years of tension. “It is to the benefit of both countries that the positive climate formed in bilateral relations over recent months has continuity and consistency,” said the tellingly identical statements that were issued by the offices of Mitsotakis and Erdogan following their meeting. According to Kathimerini’s Vassilis Nedos, there are three main pillars to the forged agreement. Specifically, direct communication between the foreign ministers of the two countries, the promotion of military Confidence Building Measures, and continuation of the “positive agenda”. The following day, in a TV interview, the prime minister spoke of a “bold agenda” in regard to Greek-Turkish relations and stated that the ultimate goal is to bring the bilateral differences in delimitating the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone to the International Court of Justice in the Hague. However, this will be no easy feat. However, among the overtures of harmony there were some discordant notes. One of these was a disagreement whether the two men discussed Greece’s Muslim minority. Erdogan claimed that it was “the main issue” he discussed with Mitsotakis, something the Greek prime minister rejected with officials stating that he would never accept to discuss such issues with the Turkish president. Spotlight
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OPINION
 [InTime News]Greece is signaling its readiness to pursue the normalization of its relations with Turkey. Prime Minister Mitsotakis, strengthened by his resounding victory in Greece’s recent elections, has made it clear that he is willing to go the extra mile. The immediate next steps in this process will include contacts and moves at a higher political level than in the past. In this context, the two foreign ministers will be in close communication, holding meetings on a regular basis. At the same time, international fora – the next one being the UN General Assembly in September – as well as bilateral meetings like the newly reinvigorated High Level Cooperation Council in November, will offer the two leaders a chance to personally monitor the effort. You might need “two to tango”, but in this case there seems to be a third dancer involved. Over the last few months, the United States have been working relentlessly and have been searching for a “win-win” formula with a multitude of actions, from military sales to financial assistance, to ensure long term stability and peaceful cooperation between the two Aegean neighbors. Still, at the end of the day Greece and Turkey themselves are the protagonists. For its part Greece, in its search for a lasting peaceful coexistence with is neighbor to the east, will use as its compass both international law and geopolitical realism. People who read between the lines detect a boldness on the Greek prime minister’s stance which will has already attracted domestic criticism. Will Turkey respond in kind? Faced with a potentially bumpy road ahead, how difficult is it to terminate the threats of war, stop flights over Greek islands (and by doing so facilitate defense cooperation with the US) and accept as the main guiding rule in solving issues the provisions of the Law of the Sea?
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| CHART OF THE WEEK |
 Long-lasting heatwaves, those that exceed 8-10 days, are worryingly becoming a recurring phenomenon in Greece. These long heatwaves are particularly taxing on living organisms, including the country’s flora and fauna. Additionally, the high temperatures also affect buildings which store and release heat throughout the day, leading to increased temperatures at night. A recent study by the National Observatory of Athens points out that in the 1980s there was only one long-lasting heatwave, in the 1990s there were two, and from the change of the millennium onwards there have been seven. |
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| ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL |
| “The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index saw a return to growth this week, closing at 1,325.61 points. Up 3.70% from last week, the benchmark reached a new nine-year high.” |
| “A rough estimate places yearly tax evasion at between 8 and 10 billion euros according to Deputy Finance Minister Haris Theocharis, half of which could be recovered. The minister said that the government will expand digital payments, increase checks, and introduce reforms to certain sectors, to help limit evasion.” |
| “The prospects of Greek tourism in the coming months remain positive according to the latest data released by the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation. Specifically, the number of flights to Greece will increase in comparison to 2022 by up to 10%, with a total of 2000 to 3500 domestic and international flights a day.” |
| WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA |
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Editor's Pick Real introspection is of course needed within the party, but if the intention is to govern again, SYRIZA should just copy the US formula as soon as possible.Stefanos KasselakisRead the article |
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