Greece says high-level talks between aides to Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis raise the possibility of direct engagement between the leaders over the eastern Mediterranean maritime zone conflict.
"We are for good neighbourliness, friendship, dialogue and a political solution. For this, we are doing our best in Turkey," says Turkish Defence Minister Akar as Greece welcomes the return of Oruc Reis research vessel to the Turkish port of Antalya.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced the diplomatic opening on the military alliance's website the same day that Turkey announced that Russia plans to conduct live-fire naval exercises this month in the eastern Mediterranean.