Greek PM Mitsotakis at luncheon with Turkish President Erdogan in Istanbul

The Sunday luncheon is at the Turkish presidential mansion on the Asian side of Istanbul and is expected to last for nearly two hours (from 13:00 Athens time).

Mitsotakis earlier attended the Divine Liturgy led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Phanar. He will meet with Bartholomew later (at 16:15 Athens time) at the Sismanoglio Hall.

The Greek PM was invited to Istanbul by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy (the first Sunday of Lent) in Phanar with him, and on the occasion the Greek premier was also invited by Turkey's president Erdogan to a luncheon in his honor.

Mitsotakis himself had recently said that he has "realistic and measured expectations of (today's) meeting," as he did not expect that disagreements with Turkey will be resolved at this meeting. Greece reiterates that Turkish demands on a series of issues are known and rejected at all levels and at every opportunity, while Greece's positions are clear as well, government sources said. "But disagreeing does not mean we should not be talking," they added, as "communication channels should remain open at all levels and tension deescalated." In addition, as the government noted, there are issues on the so-called positive agenda between the two countries that can move ahead and improve the climate between the two countries, to the benefit of both peoples.