As the French research vessel awaits departure from Heraklion, intense diplomatic activity is under way to ensure the smooth laying of the cable for the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnector.
Against the backdrop of France’s notification note verbale to Ankara, the Greek side insists that authorisation for the project falls exclusively within the remit of the Greek and Cypriot authorities, rejecting opposition parties’ accusations that Greece is conceding its sovereign rights.
Its aim is to ensure that the notification from the consortium undertaking the project leaves no room for misinterpretation of the rights and responsibilities of the countries involved.
The government is seeking to keep two separate processes distinct: on the one hand, the authorisation of the work, which, it makes clear, was granted exclusively by the Greek authorities; and on the other, the diplomatic notification to Turkey by the French side.
Government and diplomatic sources stress that a note verbale is the simplest and most common form of diplomatic communication between states. It is not a request for permission, nor does it imply recognition of the rights or maritime jurisdiction of a third country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Chatzivasileiou sought to highlight precisely this distinction. In an interview with ANT1, he said the Greek government had granted the authorisation, after which the French side notified Ankara for information and maritime safety purposes.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis took a similar line, making clear that there had been no coordination with Turkey over the authorisation or execution of the project, and that its permission had neither been sought nor would be sought.
Operational considerations
Meanwhile, Athens is also focused on the operational aspects of restarting the project. The French vessel is expected to be monitored continuously by drones, while the Coast Guard will also be on standby to assist if necessary.
The area will be monitored continuously, as the main aim is for the surveys to proceed without interference and without creating conditions that could lead to a fresh confrontation.
Turkey has already responded by issuing a counter-NAVTEX challenging Greek jurisdiction over part of the survey area. The government insists, however, that this move does not alter the existing legal regime and has no legal effect.
The statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan last Saturday that “everything is normal, everything is fine” was recorded as a possible sign that Ankara was taking a less confrontational tone, without implying that it had abandoned its longstanding positions.
The government has considered various scenarios, from further diplomatic protests to the presence of Turkish warships in the wider area. The precedent set in the summer of 2024, when surveys for the same project were halted after Turkish warships intervened in the area around Kasos, remains fresh in the memory.