Fidan says Turkey will accept interconnector surveys if notified in writing beforehand

Ankara, Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that Turkey would not oppose seabed surveys between Crete and Cyprus for the planned Great Sea Interconnector, provided it received advance notification in writing.

Turkey seeks details of survey work

Speaking to Greek newspaper Ta Nea, Fidan said Turkey wanted research vessels to submit written notices specifying their intended activities and the coordinates of the areas concerned, rather than communicating their plans orally.

He said advance notification would allow the interconnector work to proceed without Turkish obstruction. Ankara wanted to avoid changes to the status quo or the establishment of an inappropriate precedent that could create greater difficulties for both sides, he added.

According to Fidan, the issue of waters disputed by Greece and Turkey had not yet been addressed in senior-level discussions between their leaderships.

Discussions with Greece and France

Fidan said the project had been discussed with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and French President Macron. He also said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had raised it during a meeting with Mitsotakis in New York.

If built, the cable would connect the electricity networks of Cyprus, Greece and Israel.

Fidan said Erdogan had characterised the project as remarkable, while expressing a preference for supplying electricity from Turkey instead of bringing it over 2,000 kilometres at a cost exceeding €2 billion in European funding.

Fidan also said water, electricity and natural gas could be supplied from mainland Turkey across a distance of only 70 miles, benefiting Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and the population as a whole.

Survey notice and completion timetable

Reports indicate that Greece and France intend to inform Turkey of their plans before issuing a navtex for seabed surveys ahead of cable installation. A navtex is a message conveying information to vessels at sea.

Cypriot Energy Minister Michael Damianos said last week that the survey navtex would be issued before the current month ends. According to the Greek coastguard, the surveys will be carried out by the Abeille Marengo, a research vessel sailing under the French flag.

On Monday, Damianos said that, should the project move forward, full completion was expected by 2031.