Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has briefed opposition party leaders on the contents of the French verbal note sent to Turkey and Egypt over the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnector, telling them it contains no request for permission from Turkey. According to information, the minister did not hand the document to the political leaders or read them its exact text, instead conveying what he knows about its contents. The note informs the coastal states of the region about the surveys as a matter of diplomatic courtesy and also includes details on their progress. Based on the briefing, neither permission nor consent was sought from Ankara for the surveys related to the project. The meetings lasted some time and also covered the geopolitical balance in the wider region. According to the assessments expressed, the current round of surveys by the French research vessel is expected to be completed without problems or tension, while the next phase, laying the cable, is expected in about a year.
The meetings with party leaders
Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis was the first to meet Gerapetritis. After the briefing, he stressed the need to ensure the completion of the Greece–Cyprus interconnector with full respect for the sovereign rights of both countries. The minister then met KKE general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas, who spoke of a “big bargain over the country’s sovereign rights” and warned against complacency despite the government’s assurances. This was followed by a briefing for Course of Freedom leader Zoe Konstantopoulou. Greek Solution announced that its leader, Kyriakos Velopoulos, would not attend the meeting scheduled for 1pm. The round of contacts was due to conclude at 5pm with a briefing for Rena Dourou.
