Greece Rejects Turkish Approval for Cyprus Power Cable

by · Greek City Times

Athens says all permits for the Great Sea Interconnector are in place and insists Turkey has no authority over the project.

Greece has rejected any suggestion that Turkish approval is required for the construction of an undersea electricity cable linking Greece and Cyprus, insisting that all necessary licensing procedures have already been completed.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Monday that Athens had secured the required authorisations for seabed surveys and cable-laying operations, adding that Greece had not requested permission from Ankara at any stage.

Speaking during a regular government briefing, Marinakis said the Greek Navy’s Hydrographic Service issued a Navtex on November 6 following a positive recommendation from the relevant Greek authorities.

Read more: France Notifies Turkey of GSI Works as Greece and Cyprus Issue Permits

Turkey subsequently issued a counter-Navtex, repeating its claims over parts of the maritime area involved in the project. However, Marinakis dismissed the move, saying it carried no legal effect.

The dispute centres on the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), a major infrastructure project designed to connect the electricity networks of Greece and Cyprus through a subsea cable, potentially strengthening energy security and reducing Cyprus’ electricity isolation.

The project has faced repeated delays amid disagreements between Greece and Turkey over maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean.

Marinakis also addressed reports concerning a French diplomatic note sent to Turkey in connection with the project.

He clarified that the communication was a notification rather than a request for Turkish permission or consent, stressing that it did not recognise any Turkish rights over the area. He added that the French note contained no geographical coordinates.

Athens has also received no intervention from Washington regarding the project, Marinakis said.

Asked about possible diplomatic discussions between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the government spokesman said he was unaware of any such communication.

The latest statements reinforce Greece’s position that the Great Sea Interconnector will proceed under the authority of the relevant Greek and international legal frameworks, without seeking approval from Turkey.

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