“For the project to proceed, reservations about its viability must end and all technical and financial issues must be resolved,” Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said Monday morning in a television interview, referring to the Great Sea Interconnector, the electric interconnection between Greece and Cyprus.

The minister described the cable as a project of “strategic importance” that will end Cyprus’ energy isolation and lead to a reduction in high electricity prices. He stressed that the European Union has already invested 657 million euros, ranking it among the eight most important energy infrastructure projects in Europe.

At the same time, he took jabs at the Cypriot side, noting that the Cypriot finance minister’s doubts are putting obstacles in the way of a project that has already been approved and financed. “An agreement signed by Greece, Cyprus, and the European Union cannot be questioned after the fact,” he said.

Responding to reports of “blackmail” by ADMIE, according to yesterday’s statements by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Papastavrou was categorical: “51% of ADMIE belongs to the Greek state. Greece is not blackmailing, it is only speaking institutionally.”
The Greek state owns 51% of the Greek state’s assets.

The Greek government is not just talking about the Greek state; it is only acting legally.
In conclusion, he assured that Greek-Cypriot relations “remain unbreakable and above any project”, while he expressed confidence that with common will and determination “the project will go ahead”.