Greece and Turkey resume talks to try to avert military escalation

After three-hour meeting in Istanbul, sources say second round of dialogue will take place in Athens

After a five-year hiatus marked by increasingly heated relations, sabre-rattling and near conflict, Greece and Turkey have taken a tentative step towards reconciliation, agreeing to resume talks in an attempt to avert further military escalation in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.

Following a three-hour meeting of delegations from both sides in Istanbul on Monday, diplomatic sources confirmed the high-level contacts would continue, with a second round of talks taking place in Athens.