Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has requested Turkey to find a diplomatic solution to conflicts in the eastern Mediterranean. He hoped to establish a partnership between the historic rival neighbors.

Mitsotakis addressed a virtual UN General Assembly on Friday. He accused Turkey of “aggression” with its recent search for energy resources in contested waters. However, he added, “I remain an optimist.”

He said to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “Let’s meet, let’s talk and let’s seek a mutually acceptable solution. Let’s give diplomacy a chance,”

“If after all we still cannot agree, then we should trust the wisdom of the International Court at The Hague.”

He also referred to the UAE’s recognition of Israel as a sign that Greece and Turkey can overcome historic conflicts.

On the other hand, Turkey says it has equal rights to the resources of those waters, which Greece considers to be it’s own.

Earlier last month, Turkey has sent a vessel backed by military frigates to look for oil and gas resources in waters.

In his own address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, President Erdogan said that Turkey wanted to “settle disputes with sincere dialogue, based on international law and on an equitable basis.”

The European Council president told the UN General Assembly on Friday that many actors are ready to discuss the eastern Mediterranean at a multilateral conference.

The EU has been “undertaking intensive diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and to promote dialogue” among the parties involved in the eastern Mediterranean conflict, Charles Michel said.

“Many actors have already responded positively and are ready to discuss the modalities,” Michel explained.

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