The meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York has been probably canceled now rather than postponed, as Government Spokesman P. Marinakis said earlier.
HDN Newsroom
The two leaders were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. However, on Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that the Turkish side had requested a postponement of the meeting due to the Turkish president's participation in a meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders organized today in New York by US President Donald Trump.
Everything points to a definitive postponement of the meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Turkish president, which was scheduled for 9 p.m. on Tuesday (Greek time), as confirmed by Pavlos Marinakis on Wednesday morning (September 24).
Specifically, as stated by the government spokesperson, the meeting in New York between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan will definitely not take place. "Obviously, given that no common time has been found in today's schedule, I believe that the meeting is almost certain, if not certain, that it will not take place," Mr. Marinakis said. The meeting was postponed due to the Turkish side, as the neighboring country's diplomatic mission cited President Erdogan's participation in a meeting of Arab countries with Donald Trump "which coincided with the one-on-one summit ."
At the same time, Athens is scrutinizing leaks from Turkish media outlets such as the Millyet newspaper, according to which the Turks canceled the meeting because it had been leaked by the Greek side.
What government sources are saying
Late last night (Greek time), a senior government source in New York stressed that this was a fully agreed meeting, which had been arranged by the Prime Minister's diplomatic advisor, Milton Nicolaides. "Mr. Nicolaides, who was responsible for organizing the meeting, was absolutely clear. We always announce our meetings.
Turkey does not traditionally announce them. The meeting was fully arranged and agreed upon, and we announced it in the context of the UN General Assembly," the same source emphasized, implying that the meeting is now very likely to be canceled: "We do not know if the meeting will ultimately take place. I find it difficult at this point, given the Prime Minister's extremely busy schedule, but even if it does not take place, there will be an opportunity for the two leaders to talk at another time. after all, they have met seven times with Mr. Erdogan and Greece seeks open channels of communication."
A senior government source responded to journalists' questions regarding a Turkish media report that "the meeting between the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President was canceled because the Greek side violated the agreement and announced the meeting."
"When organizing the meeting, our side was clear. We always announce our meetings in advance, while Turkey does not usually do so. The appointment was fully arranged and agreed upon, and we announced the meeting in the context of the UN General Assembly.
Beyond that, I don't know if the meeting will ultimately take place. I think it is very unlikely at this point, given the Prime Minister's schedule, which is extremely busy tomorrow (Wednesday). But even if it does not take place, there will be another opportunity for the two leaders to talk at some other time. After all, the Prime Minister has already met with President Erdogan seven times, and we always seek open channels of communication," said a senior government source.
