“The competent Greek authorities have completed the prescribed permitting procedures for research and cable-laying work as part of the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection (GSI), following a relevant request by French company NEXANS”, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said at a briefing for political correspondents.
More specifically, he said, “following a positive opinion from the competent Interministerial Committee for the Granting of Marine Research Permits, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis issued the permit for the research and cable-laying work last Friday. The research vessel then requested the required notice to mariners, known as a NAVTEX, for the work to be carried out, and it was issued”.
GSI, Mr Marinakis noted, “is an interconnection project of strategic importance for strengthening energy self-sufficiency and regional cooperation and stability, and will contribute to peace and security in the wider region”.
Turkey’s counter-NAVTEX
Referring to the Turkish counter-NAVTEX, he said it “does not change the status quo. It is a repetition of familiar Turkish claims that have no legal effect. Greece exercises its rights in accordance with international law. Our position is, and remains, clear: permits for the relevant work were requested from the Greek and Cypriot authorities; no permit was requested from Turkey, nor will one be. Greece has no understanding with the Turkish authorities on the permitting or execution of the project”.
The government spokesman said there were “two different things that we need to distinguish: a permit is one thing, and notification is another. In any event, the note verbale from France is the mildest way for one state to convey a message to another. It does not imply recognition of maritime jurisdiction or the rights of third states. It is solely for the safety of navigation and has no effect whatsoever, nor does it recognise any right. It is crucial to make this distinction once again”.
Written notification to Turkey, he stressed, “does not constitute a request for permission; it is purely informational. The French company requested permission only from the Greek and Cypriot authorities, recognising the sovereign rights in the area. We had said this beforehand, not now, after the fact. The project is proceeding according to plan, and nothing other than what was announced in advance has happened. Every action is being carried out in line with the plans of all the parties involved and in accordance with international law”.
Mr Marinakis noted that Greece had received no representations from any third country, including the US, and said he was unaware of any communication between the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers. “We are talking about a project involving Greece, Cyprus and France. Some people have just ‘discovered America’ simply to create an impression. Those who said the project would not go ahead were wrong. Now they are trying to make an issue of the note verbale”.