Following the departure of the French vessel Abeille Marengo from Heraklion, Turkey issued a NAVTEX (a maritime notice to ships) yesterday, stating that it had consented to the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection project in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In doing so, Turkey disputes Greece’s sole authority to authorize surveys in the maritime area extending from Crete to within 12 nautical miles of Cyprus.
Greece responded with a counter-NAVTEX, publishing the survey permits it had obtained for the area.
The French vessel is expected to reach the survey area tomorrow. The area is covered by the disputed Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum cited in the Turkish NAVTEX.
Political Dispute
The opposition is seeking information about the contents of France’s note verbale (a form of official written diplomatic communication) to Turkey concerning the cable project, expressing concern about possible future implications. However, French law prevents its disclosure.
The government maintains that the matter will be addressed “at the right time and in the right way.” Diplomatic sources stress that the Turkish NAVTEX makes no reference to the “issuance of a permit,” as no authorization was sought from Turkey. Requests were submitted only to Greece and Cyprus.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has stated that the note verbale poses no problem for the government and does not constitute a request for authorization.
Source: News 24/7
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