Secret talks between Greece and Turkey took place in Brussels last week amid strained relations. The negotiations took place with the mediation of Germany, according to DW.

The meeting was attended by the head of the diplomatic office of the Prime Minister of Greece Anna-Maria Bura, adviser to the President of Turkey Ibrahim Kalin in the presence of the diplomatic adviser to the German Federal Chancellor Jens Plettner.

The representative of the German Chancellor, Stefan Hebeistrat, said that the meeting took place at the initiative of Germany, but did not specify the content of the negotiations, since they are confidential..

“I can confirm that such a meeting took place, but the content of such negotiations is confidential and it is logical. The Prime Minister of Greece and the President of Turkey responded very positively to Germany's question about the advisability of holding such a meeting.. So the meeting took place and other similar contacts are expected,” said the speaker of the German government.

Asked if this step marks the start of a new German mediation initiative, Stefan Hempestreit said no.. There will be more contacts, but everything else remains confidential..

In recent months, the Chancellor and the German Foreign Ministry have repeatedly expressed the view that Berlin could make a constructive contribution to the dialogue between Greece and Turkey, if both countries so wish..

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and German Foreign Minister advocate dialogue between the two countries.

The last German mediation between Athens and Ankara took place in the summer of 2020 at the instigation of then Chancellor Angela Merkel, when relations between Greece and Turkey reached a dangerous escalation point off the coast of Kastelorizo.

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Turkey and Greece have long had rather tense relations. In particular, due to competition in the Aegean Sea, namely regarding the size of water areas and gas reserves.

There are frequent disagreements between both countries over their claims to airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.. Ankara accuses Athens of creating provocations in the region. Earlier, Erdogan has already stated that Greece "

In August, Turkish aircraft carrying out a reconnaissance mission in international airspace in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas were blocked by the Greek S-300 air defense system..