Ankara sent a harsh message threatening the establishment of the Cyprus-Crete electricity interconnection (GSI) project, insisting once again that no work will be done in the region without Turkey’s consent.
Shortly after the weekly briefing by Defense Ministry’s spokesman, Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, a ministry “source” commented on the information about the planning to resume research for the laying of the Cyprus-Crete cable, state-run news agency Anadolu reported:
“Turkey has the largest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is not possible to persistently promote projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, designed by Greece, the “Greek Cypriot Administration” and third parties, within the framework of maximalist demands, without taking into account the presence of Turkey and the “TRNC” [KTG note: the illegally occupied north of Cyprus] in the region, and which are planned to pass through maritime areas under Turkish jurisdiction, without the consent of our country.
These are unrealistic projects, without adequate funding and purely provocative. There is no change in our stance towards such behaviors that do not respect our rights and interests. We will continue to do what we have done in the past. There is no point in persisting on this issue…”
This official reaction, which comes a few days after the warnings and threats of Turkish diplomatic and military sources in the newspaper Turkiye newspaper, shows that Turkey insists on the stance that led to the cessation of exploration in Kasos last July.
Such statements set Athens in serious dilemma as it is about to make decisions at the highest level on the continuation of the investigations in the area with the issuance of the relevant NAVTEX.
It should be recalled that the Cyprus-Crete electricity interconnection (GSI) project was halted in late February after the Greek Power and Energy Authority (ADMIE) decided to temporarily (?) freeze the payment of the February installment to the French cable manufacturer Nexans. The research vessel assigned to the project withdrew to Italy.
An informal KYSEA meeting of the Greek government Council for Foreign Affairs & Defense (KYSEA) was held on Tuesday afternoon on this issue, with the participation of co-responsible ministers and competent high-ranking official from the Defense Ministry, where all parameters were examined. According to media information, no final decisions were made at this meeting on the resumption of the investigations.
On Thursday, in an interview with Parapolitika FM, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, stated on the cable issue “the electricity interconnection project between Greece and Cyprus is going ahead” and will be implemented when the “timing is right.”
Gerapetritis also conceded that tensions could arise with Turkey, “since the project involves exploration and cable-laying in maritime zones that have not been officially delimited, and where Turkey has made competing claims.” However, “there is absolutely no cause for concern,” he said stressing that “this is a project co-financed by the European Union which is protected by international law.”
Greek FM Gerapetritis stressed, though “we all understand that, when activity takes place in maritime areas with unresolved boundaries and competing claims, friction is a possibility.”
The Cyprus-Crete electricity interconnection (GSI) project was halted in late February after the Greek Power and Energy Authority (ADMIE) decided to temporarily (?) freeze the payment of the February installment to the French cable manufacturer Nexans.