Turkish interior minister’s visit to Athens canceled
Ankara has canceled the visit of Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya to Athens, which was scheduled for Tuesday.
The Turkish interior minister was set to make a day trip to Athens for a working lunch with Greek Minister for Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis, Maritime Affairs Minister Christos Stylianides and Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos. The meeting was intended to address migration and security issues.
On Monday at noon, Athens received notification from Ankara that the visit had been canceled, with no further explanation provided.
Sources suggest that the Greek side attributes the cancellation to escalating tensions between Athens and Ankara in recent days, which have undermined the previously positive atmosphere between the two countries.
Additionally, it remains uncertain whether the scheduled meetings between the Greek and Turkish coast guards, expected to occur this summer, will take place.
Last Tuesday, Turkish naval vessels gathered near the islands of Kassos and Karpathos while the Italian research vessel Ievoli Relume was conducting studies for a submarine power link between Crete and Cyprus. Although the vessel had Greek authorization, Turkish warships issued warnings, claiming that it was operating in waters Turkey considers part of its continental shelf.
By late Wednesday, the Ievoli Relume had completed its research and departed for Iraklio, Crete, following diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
