GREECE – TURKEY
Declaration of Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations - What it entails
The Declaration of Athens on Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations among other things, it includes the commitment of both sides to refrain from any statement, initiative, or action that could undermine or devalue the letter and spirit
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kyriakos Mitsotakis
The Declaration of Athens on Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations, signed today by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, envisions continuous constructive and substantive consultations based on Political Dialogue on matters of mutual interest, exploratory/dialogue talks, the Positive Agenda within the framework of the Enhanced Common Action Plan, Confidence-Building Measures to eliminate unjustifiable sources of tension and the risks stemming from them.
Among other things, it includes the commitment of both sides to refrain from any statement, initiative, or action that could undermine or devalue the letter and spirit of this Declaration or jeopardize the maintenance of peace and stability in their region.
In parallel, "the Parties will seek to resolve any dispute that may arise between them in a friendly manner, through direct consultations between them or through other mutually agreed means, as provided for in the United Nations Charter."
Finally, it is noted that the Declaration "is not an international agreement binding on the Parties under international law. No provision of this Declaration shall be interpreted as producing legal rights or obligations for the Parties."
The entire Declaration of Athens on Relations of Friendship and Good Neighborliness:
The Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representing their respective Governments (referred to jointly as the "Parties"), having chaired the 5th meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council between the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Turkey on December 7, 2023, in Athens, in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation,
PP1. Recognizing the renewed willingness for cooperation between the Governments of the two countries
PP1. Recognizing the renewed willingness for cooperation between the Governments of the two countries
PP2. Emphasizing that the ties between the two neighboring nations have the potential to significantly increase the prosperity and dynamics of the region,
PP3. Emphasizing the need to continue working together for the benefit of both societies in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust,
PP4. Seeking to strengthen bilateral relations through existing institutional mechanisms,
PP5. Stressing that in order to enhance good neighborly relations, both Parties, without affecting their respective legal positions, will cultivate a spirit of solidarity in the face of current and future challenges,
PP6. Emphasizing that in order to promote the aforementioned positive atmosphere and agenda, both Parties will encourage the exchange of visits at all levels with a results-oriented approach,
PP7. Recalling that the preservation of international peace and friendly cooperation among states are among the fundamental purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and universally recognized principles of international law,
PP8. Having decided to cultivate friendly relations, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and understanding and to resolve any disputes between them through peaceful means and in accordance with international law,
PP9. Emphasizing the importance of effective channels and mechanisms of communication at all levels for the successful management of their bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on the avoidance of conflict situations and potential escalation,
PP10. Emphasizing that both Parties will approach their relations with the goal of enhancing economic cooperation and deepening the bonds between their peoples, thereby contributing to the prosperity and peaceful coexistence of the two neighboring peoples, further emphasizing that to this end, in the light of the significant progress achieved in promoting the positive agenda on economic and trade issues through the Joint Action Plan, the two sides will explore additional areas of cooperation.
The Parties have agreed to engage in continuous constructive and meaningful consultations based on the following pillars:
(a) Political Dialogue: on matters of mutual interest Exploratory/Consultative talks
(b) Positive Agenda, within the framework of the enhanced Common Action Plan, including measures of common interest in the fields of entrepreneurship-economy, tourism, transportation, energy, innovation, science and technology, agriculture, environmental protection, social security and health, youth, education and sports, and any other sector agreed upon in common, with the aim of achieving significant and specific deliverables, constantly rationalizing and updating the agenda, in a structured manner and on new topics.
(c) Confidence-Building Measures, which include measures in the military field that will contribute to the elimination of unjustifiable sources of tension, as well as the risks deriving from them.
The Parties undertake to refrain from any statement, initiative, or action that could undermine or devalue the letter and spirit of this Declaration or jeopardize the maintenance of peace and stability in their region.
The Parties will seek to settle any disputes that may arise between them in a friendly manner, through direct consultations between them or by other mutually chosen means, as provided for in the United Nations Charter.
This Declaration is not an international agreement, binding on the Parties under international law. No provision of this Declaration should be interpreted as generating legal rights or obligations for the Parties.
Done in Athens on 7th December 2023, in two copies, each in the Greek, Turkish and English languages, with all texts being equally authentic. In case of discrepancy in their interpretation, the English text prevails.
(a) Political Dialogue: on matters of mutual interest Exploratory/Consultative talks
(b) Positive Agenda, within the framework of the enhanced Common Action Plan, including measures of common interest in the fields of entrepreneurship-economy, tourism, transportation, energy, innovation, science and technology, agriculture, environmental protection, social security and health, youth, education and sports, and any other sector agreed upon in common, with the aim of achieving significant and specific deliverables, constantly rationalizing and updating the agenda, in a structured manner and on new topics.
(c) Confidence-Building Measures, which include measures in the military field that will contribute to the elimination of unjustifiable sources of tension, as well as the risks deriving from them.
The Parties undertake to refrain from any statement, initiative, or action that could undermine or devalue the letter and spirit of this Declaration or jeopardize the maintenance of peace and stability in their region.
The Parties will seek to settle any disputes that may arise between them in a friendly manner, through direct consultations between them or by other mutually chosen means, as provided for in the United Nations Charter.
This Declaration is not an international agreement, binding on the Parties under international law. No provision of this Declaration should be interpreted as generating legal rights or obligations for the Parties.
Done in Athens on 7th December 2023, in two copies, each in the Greek, Turkish and English languages, with all texts being equally authentic. In case of discrepancy in their interpretation, the English text prevails.
Government sources on the Declaration of Friendship and Good Neighborliness of Athens state the following:
An exceptionally significant text, as it is the first time that Greece and Turkey - with the signatures of the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President - commit to friendly and good neighborly relations and to "calm waters".
Specifically, the Declaration emphasizes the importance of effective channels of communication at all levels and highlights the avoidance of confrontational situations and potential escalation.
Furthermore, the Declaration defines the principles and milestones of Greek-Turkish dialogue and contacts based on the three axes agreed upon during the meeting of the Prime Minister and the Turkish President in Vilnius last July: Political dialogue (on mutually interesting issues, including exploratory contacts), positive agenda (which will constantly be enriched), Confidence-Building Measures (including measures to reduce "unjustified sources of tension and risks arising from them").
It is a statement of intentions in which Turkey also commits to the goals of the United Nations Charter and the principles of International Law and friendly cooperation between states.
There is a clear reference to the commitment to avoid statements and actions that undermine the spirit and letter of the Declaration or endanger peace and stability in the region.
The neighboring country commits to the resolution of any disputes that may arise with Greece in a friendly manner, either through direct consultations with our country or through other mutually agreed means, as provided for by the United Nations Charter.
The Athens Declaration does not negate the legal positions of the two countries.
An exceptionally significant text, as it is the first time that Greece and Turkey - with the signatures of the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President - commit to friendly and good neighborly relations and to "calm waters".
Specifically, the Declaration emphasizes the importance of effective channels of communication at all levels and highlights the avoidance of confrontational situations and potential escalation.
Furthermore, the Declaration defines the principles and milestones of Greek-Turkish dialogue and contacts based on the three axes agreed upon during the meeting of the Prime Minister and the Turkish President in Vilnius last July: Political dialogue (on mutually interesting issues, including exploratory contacts), positive agenda (which will constantly be enriched), Confidence-Building Measures (including measures to reduce "unjustified sources of tension and risks arising from them").
It is a statement of intentions in which Turkey also commits to the goals of the United Nations Charter and the principles of International Law and friendly cooperation between states.
There is a clear reference to the commitment to avoid statements and actions that undermine the spirit and letter of the Declaration or endanger peace and stability in the region.
The neighboring country commits to the resolution of any disputes that may arise with Greece in a friendly manner, either through direct consultations with our country or through other mutually agreed means, as provided for by the United Nations Charter.
The Athens Declaration does not negate the legal positions of the two countries.
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