Ankara is seeking a broader agenda in talks with Athens, Hurriyet reports

According to a report by the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, citing diplomatic sources, Ankara wants to bring the issues of island sovereignty and demilitarization in the eastern Aegean to the negotiating table with Athens.

The report is seen as part of Turkey’s efforts to keep these issues in the spotlight and expand the agenda of talks with Greece, which claims that the only outstanding dispute is the delimitation of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Turkish diplomatic sources told the newspaper that Ankara plans to bring all disputes to international jurisdiction as a “package” if no solution is reached.

“Ankara seeks a permanent, comprehensive and fair solution in accordance with international law to address disputes over territorial waters, airspace boundaries, indeterminate sovereignty of geographical formations, demilitarization of islands and management of the Flight Information Region (FIR). “, the sources were quoted as saying.

In addition, the same sources said Greece must stop denying the alleged Turkish national identity of Thrace’s Muslim minority, recognize the community’s elected religious leaders, lift restrictions on educational opportunities and stop so-called “intimidation.” Turkish minority.”

The Turkish diplomatic sources also called on Greece to reconsider its stance towards ethnic Turks not covered by the Lausanne Treaty, particularly those said to live in Thessaloniki and the islands of Rhodes and Kos in the southeastern Aegean. They called on the Greek government to take measures for these populations based on universal values ​​and in accordance with human and minority rights.

In an interview with Kathimerini on Sunday, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said he was expected to hold talks in Athens next month on next steps to potentially advance negotiations on the EEZ and the delimitation of the continental shelf.