Former Greek Minister of Defense Dimitris Avramopoulos had an informal meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul yesterday.
Avramopoulos is currently in Istanbul visiting Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, shortly before undertaking his new duties in the European Commission in Brussels. The Greek politician is the new Commissioner for Migration and Foreign Affairs in the European Union.
Erdogan invited Avramopoulos to his “White Palace” where the two men discussed latest developments and the Cyprus issue in particular. The meeting took place at a crucial moment, as Ankara creates tension over the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone and the Aegean Sea in general.
During his stay in Istanbul, Avramopoulos called the Turkish president on the phone and asked to meet unofficially. The two men have been friends from the time they were mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively. Erdogan received the Greek politician in private at the presidential mansion.
Meeting with Bartholomew
Avramopoulos visited Istanbul in order to meet with Bartholomew. The Ecumenical Patriarch wished the best to the new commissioner on his duties in the Migration and Foreign Affairs Office in Brussels.
Bartholomew also said that Dimitris Avramopoulos always showed his concern over issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Church.
Avramopoulos was accompanied by his close collaborator Aristidis Kalogeropoulos
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