GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE

The Greek government justifiably appears satisfied with Turkey’s first move toward de-escalation without concessions from Athens and with a halt of provocations

'The Germans have done a good job trying to diplomatically get them to begin their conversations about how to proceed. We hope they’ll be real conversations and we hope the military assets that are there will be withdrawn so these conversations can take place,; Pompeo said.

Nato for decades and until now has chosen a policy of equal distances, and so today’s meeting is crucial because the allies will have to take a clear stand on the perilous conflict.

Turkish policy - or “provocative behaviour” as Athens terms it - should under no circumstances act as a hindrance in pursuing a bilateral dialogue.

'We are attempting to de-escalate tensions in the Aegean - which entail dangers of an accident – with continuing discussions on implementation of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) agreed to over the last decades.'