Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Monday at 18.00 to discuss the refugee issue and the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement and bilateral relations, on the sidelines of the U.N. World Humanitarian Summit.
According to government sources, the EU-Turkey deal is seen as “key” in the management of refugee flows in the Aegean and Tsipras is expected to note its importance in tackling the issue. He will also ask Erdogan to continue Greek-Turkish cooperation to make this deal work.
Apart from the agreement, the two leaders will also discuss bilateral relations, with the same sources noting Tsipras will raise the issue of Turkey’s military activity and violations in the Aegean.
In Istanbul, foreign dignitaries will be welcomed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, and Erdogan at 07:30-07:50. The meeting of heads of state will be held at 08:00-10:00 and the summit will start at 11.00 and end at 18.15. Tsipras will also participate in a round table titled: “We do not leave anyone behind: a commitment to address forced displacement”.
Tsipras will be accompanied by government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili, Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas and Deputy Minister of Education Theodosis Pelegrinis.