ATHENS — Greece, which is steadfastly committed to international law and European values, has specific and known positions, the foreign ministry said in a statement about relations with Turkey on Friday. It stressed that "with respect to overall relations with Turkey, both at a bilateral level and in an EU-Turkey framework, disagreements have existed and continue to exist."

At the same time, it added, as was emphasised during the contacts that Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias had in Ankara, there is a clear will of the part of the Mitsotakis government to promote a positive agenda in relations between the two countries and a spectrum of cooperation.

"Particularly in the economic and trade sectors, a positive agenda can contribute to consolidating a climate of de-escalation and improved relations," the statement said.

"At the same time, the two sides examined the strengthening of contacts between the two peoples and in this context exchanged views in this direction, which could be implemented after the end of the pandemic."

Specifically, it is pointed out that the Greek side, through the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Economic Diplomacy, Kostas Fragogiannis, proposed 15 areas of cooperation in the economic field. At the same time, the Turkish side also proposed specific areas.

"The two sides agreed to work on the next steps in this field, during the forthcoming contacts between the two countries, at all levels," according to a statement from the foreign ministry.