Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis clarified on Monday that the planned electricity interconnection between Greece and Cyprus has not been halted due to Turkish interference. Speaking to Action 24 television on September 1, he stressed that work on the undersea cable was proceeding according to schedule and would continue as planned.
“The survey for the cable laying did not stop because of Turkey’s reaction but because it was completed as programmed. Turkey did not obstruct Greece, and the project to connect Cyprus with Greece will move forward,” Gerapetritis said.
He also touched on Greece’s broader energy initiatives, including the establishment of marine parks and the tendering of offshore blocks for exploitation. “If we look at developments over the past two years, it is clear that Greece has gained far greater leverage in this field,” he noted.
The minister underlined that the cable project will advance in the coming period and issued a warning against any outside attempts at obstruction. “If a third country seeks to impede progress, there will be consequences. Greece will not cease to defend its sovereign rights,” he emphasized.
Turning to diplomacy, Gerapetritis confirmed that no date has yet been set for a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, he said the two leaders may meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, scheduled for September 22–26.
Asked whether such a meeting would be substantive, he replied that “there is no such thing as a purely ceremonial encounter between the Greek prime minister and the Turkish president,” adding that Athens hopes dialogue will help ease longstanding bilateral tensions.
