Greece and Turkey must live peacefully, express their differences, and seek solutions, stated Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his joint statements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their meeting at the Maximos Mansion, within the framework of the 5th High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey.

The Prime Minister mentioned that he intends to visit Ankara in the spring, emphasizing, "Geography and history have placed us in the same neighborhood; circumstances have placed us opposite each other. However, I feel obliged to bring the states side by side. In the name of future generations, we must build a tomorrow where a fresh wind will blow in these calm waters."

He also stated that, with the signing of the Declaration of Friendship and Good Neighborliness, the two countries will gradually move forward to broaden the positive agenda and Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), as well as economic cooperation. "When conditions mature, the next phase of dialogue may include the only difference: delimitation of the continental shelf," noted the Prime Minister.

Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that the Treaty of Friendship was signed in Ankara in 1930 and highlighted that the deposit of Ionian – Venizelos remains active. "Today, 100 years after the Treaty of Lausanne, a declaration of friendship and good neighborliness is being concluded. The declaration confirms the friendship relationship and highlights the possibilities of cooperation," he pointed out.