The Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias met, on Monday, with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. The two ministers reaffirmed the two countries’ views on the issues of Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean maritime borders demarcation.
“The ministers affirmed the solidity of the Egyptian-Greek relationship,” said Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, the spokesman of Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. “Shoukry affirmed that Egypt welcomes Greek investments in Egypt.” “I met with Egypt’s FM S. Shoukry in Cairo to discuss multifaceted warm relations and to review recent regional developments following Philia Forum and its positive impact on advancing regional stability and cooperation,” Dendias said on Twitter. Dendias’ visit came after predictions were raised about an Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement. In February, Egypt declared a huge bid for exploration of oil and gas in 24 spots, including nine spots in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The areas spotted by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum respected the exclusive economic zone of Turkey according to the Turkish mapping of Turkey’s continental shelf and maritime zones, which Greece refuse to agree to. This was welcomed by Turkey and the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu who stated, “We received Egypt’s activity in exploration positively as it respects our sea borders.”
Turkey attempted to support its position weeks before a decided summit with Greece, sponsored by the USA and the EU, over maritime borders. “We can have an agreement with Egypt after negotiating maritime zones,” said Çavuşoğlu in statements to TRT Arabic TV. Arab News website reported Egyptian diplomatic resources who denied any talks are taking place between Egypt and Turkey.
