The official visit on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to Ankara on Wednesday does not appear to have improved bilateral relation in any meaningful way, given that Turkish authorities are resisting the prospect of establishing hotspots in Turkey.

This was reflected in the press conference with Ahmed Davutoglu, where the Greek PM stated that they European Union must assume its responsibilities in relation to the refugee crisis. Both Prime Ministers agreed that both countries have undertaken a major burden in relation to the crisis, with Mr. Tsipras underlining the need for greater EU involvement.

On the other hand, the Turkish PM argued that talks on bilateral issues – such as the Cypriot dispute, he added – will continue, with the Greek PM responding that it is important to find a solution for both communities on the island, without third parties acting as guarantors.

The Turkish PM appeared to be interested in the ‘technical cooperation’ of the Coast Guard agencies, as part of the effort to end the humanitarian tragedy, however he did not elaborate on the nature, aims or extent of this cooperation. Turkey has disputed Greek sovereignty in the Aegean and has aimed to support its claims by extending its operations to create a de facto situation.

When the Greek PM referred to the violations of Greek airspace and waters, his Turkish counterpart provocatively avoided responding getting into details, spoke of and spoke of turning the Aegean into a ‘sea of solidarity’. Finally, the announcement of talks between Greece, Turkey and Germany in appears problematic, given that a European Union summit with the participation of Turkey at the end of the month has been arranged.