Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis debunked the Turkish narrative that Athens accepted expansionist claims in this week’s incident in the southern Aegean during an interview with Real FM. He emphasized that the electrical connection project between Greece and Cyprus is EU-approved and requires surveys before laying the submarine cable. Gerapetritis confirmed that Greece adhered to the original planning, conducting surveys in both territorial and international waters of the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone.
Despite Turkey’s objections following the maritime zones memorandum with Libya, Gerapetritis asserted that Greece rejects Ankara’s sovereign rights claims in the eastern Mediterranean. The Italian research vessel, Ievoli Relume, faced warnings from Turkish warships while working on an underwater power link between Crete and Cyprus. After completing the research and de-escalating tensions, the vessel departed for Crete.
Gerapetritis highlighted that the survey was completed without any ‘hot incident,’ reaffirming Greece’s commitment to continue such activities despite Turkey’s opposition.