A provocative message from Ankara, which once again insists that no project will be carried out in the region without the consent of Turkey.

Source of Turkey’s Defense Ministry, shortly after the regular weekly briefing by the ministry’s spokesman, Vice Admiral Zeki Akturk, commented on the information about the planning to reopen investigations into the spotting of the Cyprus-Crete cable and, according to Anadolu, the following response was given:

“Turkey has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is not possible that projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, designed by Greece, the ‘Greek Cypriot Administration’ and third parties, are being persistently promoted under maximalist demands, without taking into account the presence of Turkey and the ‘TRNC’ (sic) in the region, and which are planned to pass through maritime areas under Turkish jurisdiction without the consent of our country. These are unrealistic projects, without adequate funding and purely provocative. There is no change in our attitude towards such behaviour that does not respect our rights and interests. We will continue to do what we have done in the past. There is no point in dwelling on this issue…”

This official reaction, which comes a few days after Turkish diplomatic and military sources warned and threatened the Turkiye newspaper, shows that Turkey is sticking to the stance that led to the suspension of the investigations last July in Kassos.

And of course, it creates serious dilemmas for Athens, which is expected to make top-level decisions on whether to continue the investigations with the issuance of NAVTEX.

In fact, an informal meeting was held on this issue on Tuesday afternoon, with the participation of relevant ministers and competent officials from the Ministry of National Defense, where all parameters were examined.
According to reports, no final decisions were taken at this meeting on the resumption of the investigations.

Greek FM Gerapetritis, in an interview with “Parapolitika”, was asked about the cable issue and replied as follows:

“The timing is multifactorial not only depends on the company’s planning which has to be done, it also depends on the technical details which determine the issue of exit for exploration and laying because there is also the need to issue NAVTEX requirements. It is a question of timing in the sense that there are other interrelated issues. The laying of the cable will go ahead, I would remind you that this is a project co-financed by the European Union and protected by international law.

There is absolutely no fear. Of course, we always measure the events and possible reactions and this always in relation to how it will be most beneficial for our foreign policy. I repeat, the project will go ahead, it will be done in a time that is appropriate, but we all understand that since there is going to be exploration and drilling in sea areas that have not been demarcated and there are claims on the part of Turkey, it is obvious that this could create friction..”