Turkey and Greece have expressed their readiness to resume "exploratory talks" on the disputed maritime sovereignty demands in the eastern Mediterranean, and a NATO official confirmed to the island that good progress has been made in the technical negotiations between the two sides.
The Turkish presidency quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying - in a video conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel - that the "partial momentum" achieved through the establishment of the dialogue should be preserved by taking reciprocal steps between the two sides.
Erdogan also expressed his hope that the European Union summit on 24 and 25 of this month would produce a new impetus for relations between Turkey and the Union, adding that taking concrete measures to modernize a customs union between the two sides, visa-free travel and immigration would help establish relations on the basis of positive.
For his part, a NATO official told the island that good progress had been made in the technical talks between the Turkish and Greek military, describing them as constructive.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the end of the fifth technical meeting between the two countries at NATO headquarters in Brussels, noting that the sixth technical meeting will be held at NATO headquarters next week.
These meetings aim to set up a mechanism for settling disputes in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, and during which a document is being discussed that provides for a package of measures to build confidence between the two countries, and to establish a direct line of communication between the military authorities throughout the day.
Jens Stoltenberg: NATO remains an important platform for consultations among member states (Getty Images-Archive)
For his part, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the technical talks between the Turkish and Greek military delegations aim to complete the ongoing diplomatic work.
Stoltenberg stressed - during talks held at NATO headquarters in Brussels with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian - that NATO remains an important platform for consultations among member states.
A NATO statement said that its Secretary General discussed with the French Foreign Minister the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the efforts made to avoid sea and air accidents.
He explained that Stoltenberg briefed the French Foreign Minister on the progress of the technical meetings held at NATO headquarters to establish a military mechanism to settle disputes between Greece and Turkey, the two members of the alliance.