The Greece–Cyprus power interconnection project is entering a “decisive phase toward its implementation,” according to Konstantinos Letympiotis, Government Spokesperson for the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking to the OPEN television station about the latest developments regarding the Great Sea Interconnector, Mr. Letympiotis emphasized the importance of a French company’s participation in the project, noting that these new developments strengthen not only the technical but also the geopolitical and diplomatic dimensions of the power interconnection.
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When asked whether French participation mitigates the project’s geopolitical risk, Mr. Letympiotis emphasized that it strengthens the diplomatic clout of both the Greek and Cypriot sides. “I believe that France’s involvement significantly strengthens the diplomatic clout that we—the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, along with France and the European Union—possess,” he said.
At the same time, the Cypriot Government Spokesperson placed particular emphasis on the European nature of the electricity interconnection, noting that this is not a project concerning exclusively Greece and Cyprus, and emphasized that it is a project of common European interest, while the European Commission has placed it high on its list of priorities for the EU’s energy interconnection.
Responding to a question, Mr. Letympiotis confirmed media reports regarding communications between the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron. As he explained, these communications took place both before the official announcement of France’s participation and in recent days. According to him, the goal is “coordination at the highest political level” for a project that is a priority for Greece and Cyprus.
Regarding the possibility of a Turkish reaction at the start of the explorations, the Government Spokesperson declined to speculate on future developments, emphasizing that Athens and Nicosia will first give diplomacy a chance. At the same time, however, he stressed that the Republic of Cyprus will neither call its sovereign rights into question nor tolerate any challenge to them.
Regarding the financial aspect of the Great Sea Interconnector, Mr. Letympiotis emphasized that Greece and Cyprus have jointly approached the European Investment Bank to update the project’s technical and financial data, and he estimated that in the near future there will bethe relevant updated studies, which will provide a more complete picture of the project’s progress.
