![\"Greece](\"https:\/\/www.ekathimerini.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jean-Noel_Barrot_Gerapetritis_nato_foreign_reuters-320x200.jpg?v=1743788955\")
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks with Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis during the North Atlantic Council meeting in NATO foreign ministers format at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 3, 2025. [Jacquelyn Martin\/Pool via Reuters]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Greece is preparing to resume surveys for its undersea electricity interconnection with Cyprus, the Great Sea Interconnector, in waters east of Kasos and Karpathos. The process to issue an official maritime notice (Navtex) has been set in motion, sources say.<\/p>\n
The Navtex, which will detail the coordinates and time frame of the planned activities, must first be approved by Greece\u2019s Foreign Ministry before being issued by the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service.<\/p>\n
Survey operations were postponed until April due to vessel availability.<\/p>\n
The Ievoli Relume, previously engaged in the project, remains docked in the Netherlands, making it likely that the NG Worker, currently off the coast of Messina, Italy, will take over. If procedures advance as scheduled, surveys could begin by the end of next week.<\/p>\n
Greek authorities are closely monitoring the situation, particularly any potential reaction from Turkey, which has previously expressed opposition to the project. Greek defense forces have reportedly devised plans to safeguard operations in case of interference.<\/p>\n
Diplomatic discussions between Greece and Turkey continue. On the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan agreed to postpone a bilateral High-Level Cooperation Council meeting until after Easter. They also set their next meeting for mid-May at an informal NATO summit and scheduled a Greek business delegation\u2019s visit to Istanbul.<\/p>\n
Athens and Ankara remain deeply divided over the project. Greece insists the interconnection is a sovereign right under international maritime law, while Turkey claims it infringes on its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara has previously referenced the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime deal and past objections filed with the UN to argue that any activity in the contested area should require Turkish approval.<\/p>\n
Tensions over the undersea project flared last July when Turkey criticized Greek survey operations. Athens, however, maintains that the cable does not cross disputed waters and that international law does not require Turkish consent.<\/p>\n
The diplomatic channel between Gerapetritis and Fidan has remained active, addressing both routine and high-stakes issues. While officials are focused on de-escalation, Greece remains committed to advancing its energy plans despite Turkey\u2019s stance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n