The countdown has begun for the resumption of survey operations for the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection project. Athens and Nicosia are working in close coordination to reinforce the legal and institutional framework for their activities, while preparations aboard the French research vessel Abeille Marengo are nearing completion. The vessel is expected to depart from Heraklion on Monday for six months of surveys in the area stretching from Karpathos to Cyprus, with the electricity interconnection project subsequently planned to extend to Israel.
Athens has sent a clear message that Greece will not back down from exercising its sovereign rights, stressing that it is the sole authority responsible for granting the relevant authorisation.
Greek officials have emphasised that permission to resume the surveys was requested exclusively from Greece, which issued the NAVTEX notice for the electricity cable.
Athens responds to Turkey’s objections
The issuance of the Greek NAVTEX prompted an immediate reaction from Turkey, which responded with a counter-NAVTEX and a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterating the unilateral maritime claims it submitted to the United Nations in 2020.
Athens responded swiftly.
Greek diplomatic sources stressed that international maritime law is entirely clear and leaves no room for misinterpretation.
“The operations of the French research vessel VB Abeille Marengo will proceed according to the company’s operational schedule in Greek and Cypriot territorial waters and in areas of the Greek and Cypriot continental shelves,” the sources stated.
They further clarified that Turkey’s domestic handling of the matter was of no concern to Greece, emphasising that Athens was acting exclusively in accordance with international law.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reportedly told Kathimerini that “everything is fine, everything is normal,” a statement open to different interpretations.
However, an official announcement issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday evening maintained that the process required Turkey’s consent, which Ankara claimed had not yet been obtained.
According to Greek media, Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Chatzivasileiou said that Turkey’s reaction was neither surprising nor unexpected.
“No one is impressed or surprised by the Turkish reaction. The counter-NAVTEX is essentially based on the familiar, unfounded theory that Ankara presented six years ago. The government is neither afraid nor hesitant to exercise the country’s rights in every area,” he stated.
Greece and Cyprus maintain coordinated approach
According to ERTnews correspondent in Nicosia Kostis Constantinou, a senior diplomatic source confirmed that Athens and Nicosia remain in constant communication and are implementing a coordinated operational plan.
The two countries are also maintaining a common position in response to Turkey’s challenges to their maritime rights.
Both Greece and Cyprus are proceeding with their respective authorisation procedures and maritime notifications.
The coordination is intended to ensure that survey operations continue within the framework of their respective sovereign rights and jurisdiction, without recognising Turkey’s claims to authorisation over the project.
France expresses support for Greece
France has also sent a clear message of support for Greek initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean.
French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasised that operational cooperation between Athens and Paris is being strengthened through strategic projects.
“France actively participates in defending Greece’s security interests. The Eastern Mediterranean is an area of strategic interest for the freedom of movement of our armed forces, which explains our systematic presence in the region,” Vautrin said, according to Greek newspaper Ta Nea.
Her remarks underline the strategic importance Paris attaches to the Eastern Mediterranean and its defence cooperation with Greece.
Greek President: Electricity interconnection is a European project
Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas also delivered a message of determination regarding Greece’s sovereign rights during a visit to Crete.
“Greece exercises its rights in its territorial waters and on the Greek continental shelf. Cyprus does the same. This is a European project funded by the European Union with hundreds of millions of euros, and it certainly does not constitute any provocation by Greece against anyone,” he stated.
The Great Sea Interconnector is designed to establish an electricity connection between Greece and Cyprus, with a planned subsequent extension to Israel.
The anticipated resumption of surveys represents an important step for the project, as Greece and Cyprus seek to advance the interconnection despite continuing Turkish objections.
Source: ERT
Also read: GSI: NAVTEX dispute escalates over electricity cable as France’s position comes under scrutiny
