Meeting with Turks to focus on diplomacy

Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos chaired a meeting of ministers Wednesday in preparation for the Greek-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council, which is due to take place in Athens on December 5 and 6, and advised them that the upcoming talks would focus on high politics.

Venizelos asked the government officials, including those from the Development, Culture and Tourism ministries, to ensure that the Greek side has implemented all of the agreements from the previous council, which was held in Turkey. However, he said that no new low-politics deals would be signed at the upcoming meeting unless necessary.

Instead, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras wants the talks to focus on diplomatic issues such as the demarcation of maritime zones, Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union, the Cyprus issue and the Turkish presence in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone.