Sofia: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday met his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit of Heads of State and Government. The meeting took place in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, focusing on Trkiye-Greece relations and regional cooperation.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Foreign Ministry shared a statement on its Turkish social media platform, NSosyal, confirming the meeting during the SEECP summit. Diplomatic sources noted that both ministers engaged in discussions about enhancing cooperation between their nations.

On the sidelines of the summit, Fidan also met with Denis Becirovic, chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosniak member of the Presidency. During these discussions, Fidan addressed the draft maritime jurisdiction legislation currently under consideration in the Turkish parliament. He emphasized that this legislation was a domestic matter and reiterated Trkiye's commitment to international law and good neighborly relations.

Fidan expressed Trkiye's expectation for reciprocal respect from its neighbors and described as regrettable any statements made by external parties based on incomplete information regarding the draft law. He cautioned that such remarks could strain bilateral relations and urged a more responsible stance.

Highlighting the Eastern Mediterranean as a potential area for cooperation rather than conflict, Fidan stressed the need to avoid actions that could undermine regional stability or target Trkiye.