Μake us preferred on Google The departure of the French vessel Abeille Marengo from Crete, bound for Karpathos and Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), signals the resumption of survey work for the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project.
The issuance of counter-NAVTEX notices by Athens and Nicosia neutralized Turkey’s maritime notice, through which Ankara sought to present itself as the authority responsible for authorizing the project. NAVTEX notices are official maritime safety broadcasts informing vessels of activities or potential hazards in designated sea areas.
After completing technical checks on its systems, the research vessel will head south of Kasos, following the coordinates specified in the Greek and Cypriot NAVTEX notices.
According to the schedule, the vessel will first calibrate its equipment before proceeding with the surveys. Despite Turkish objections, the program is moving ahead as planned, with Athens maintaining open diplomatic channels while remaining operationally prepared.
By Thursday afternoon, the French vessel is expected to reach the disputed area, where the reliability of the understanding reached will be put to the test. The possibility of some move by Turkey, primarily to signal its presence or demonstrate its flag, cannot be ruled out. However, I do not believe Ankara will dare take more forceful action given the climate that has developed.
Political Dispute and Briefings
On Saturday, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will brief political party leaders on the project. Although the agenda has not yet been specified, the text of the French diplomatic note is expected to be distributed, as Athens seeks to establish a unified national position.
On the domestic political front, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis criticized the opposition for rushing to judgment, stressing that the vessel is operating under a lawful permit.
“I do not believe that some of us are more or less patriotic than others, whether within the political system or in society at large. We all love our country equally, and each of us expresses it in our own way. Some people, using foreign policy issues as an opportunity, try to manufacture controversies out of nothing in order to survive politically,” he said.
In contrast, Kostas Tsoukalas, spokesperson for the opposition PASOK party, questioned the government’s stance.
“Is the government essentially saying what? Silence. Anyone who speaks out and criticizes the way we handle certain issues is undermining the country. [They are being told to] go and talk to Erdogan. These are dangerous things. Tomorrow, if we have another project, will we need another France to make it happen?” he asked.
Dimitris Koutsoumbas of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) called for a briefing on the diplomatic note, while Rena Dourou of SYRIZA demanded that a meeting of political party leaders be convened.
Kyriakos Velopoulos confirmed that the Greek Solution party would participate in the briefing. Dimitris Natsios of Niki described the developments as a “humiliating defeat,” while Alexandros Kazamias of Course of Freedom referred to “secret diplomacy.”
Theoni Koufonikolakou commented: “When you brief someone under the threat of intimidation, with the project frozen for two years, you are not providing information. You are asking for permission.”
