The Breadth of Territorial Waters The Delimitation of the Aegean Continental Shelf Militarization of Eastern Aegean Islands Contrary tp the Provisions of International Agreements Air Space Related Related Problems Islands, Islets And Rocks in the Aegean Which Were Not Ceded To Greece By International Treaties The Kardak Dispute Search and Rescue Regions in the Aegean Türkiye´s Views Regarding The Settlement Of The Aegean Problems Türkiye´s Aegean Peace Process Initiative Recent Developments
  1. Foreign Policy
  2. Regions
  3. European Countries
  4. Greece
  5. Relations between Türkiye and Greece
  6. Turkish-Greek Relations/Aegean Problems
  7. The Aegean Problems
  8. Recent Developments
Recent Developments

In the second half of 1999, a period of rapprochement began between Turkey and Greece after the relations of the two countries had deteriorated because of the “Öcalan Affair”.

Turkey renewed its calls for a bilateral dialogue on the Aegean issues in this new period and proposed the resumption of the talks on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that were held between the NATO Permanent Representatives of both countries.

Consequently, Turkey and Greece resumed talks on CBMs in late 2000 in two channels, the NATO Permanent Representatives and the Political Directors. To this date, the two countries have agreed upon 19 CBMs. The process continues.

In February 2002, Greece responded positively to Turkey’s continued calls for a dialogue on the Aegean issues and the Foreign Ministers of both countries decided to launch “exploratory contacts” between the two countries with a view to finding ways of resolving the Aegean issues. The first of these contacts, held at the level of the Undersecretaries of Foreign Ministries, took place in Ankara on 12 March 2002. So far 36 meetings have been held in this framework. This process also continues.

Turkey hopes that these endeavors will lead the way to a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement to the Aegean issues that is mutually acceptable by both sides.