Greece's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, has reaffirmed the Greek government's commitment to move forward with the electricity interconnection project with Cyprus.
During an interview with Greece's Open TV, Gerapetritis on 25 August noted that laying the electricity interconnection cable between Greece and Cyprus, and eventually Israel, "is a European project" and added that surveying the seabed ahead of its implementation will continue in the next period.
The Minister did not provide more information when asked whether authorities were about to issue a navigational telex or NAVTEX this autumn, signaling the launch of works but reassured that "there is absolutely no reason for concern."
He said moreover that the Greek government's stance is that laying the subsea electricity cable is a practice that is "absolutely protected by International Law. It cannot be blocked" adding that "if Turkey, which aspires to become a member of the European Union, believes that it should block the project, will have to bear the cost."
Following a question regarding Greece's response in case Turkey presents obstacles, Gerapetritis said that “we will protect our sovereign rights and exert them in the field” and added that “we are ready for all potential scenarios.”
Greece's "veto on Turkey's participation" in EU's SAFE is "clear success", Gerapetritis says
The Greek Minister also discussed the EU's SAFE project and the potential participation of Turkey in EU rearmament schemes, saying that the inclusion of a veto right in case national interests are at stake, was a "clear success of the Greek diplomacy."
Gerapetritis explained that "for a third-party country to participate in European schemes, there must be a bilateral agreement with the EU" and added that Greece would be able to veto a potential EU-Turkey agreement.
(Source: CNA)
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