Eastern Mediterranean waters are sizzling again, as the region is back in the geopolitical eye with Europe seeking fast disengagement from Russian natural gas, the Ukraine war still raging and Brussels priorities coinciding with energy balances and developments in the area.
As the jostling for position intensifies, Greece is seeking a pivotal role on the regional energy scene, promised no less by the United States, but which requires understanding and cooperation with complicated neighbours, the resolution of Greco-Turkish differences and the Cyprus problem (engines seem to be running hot again after Erhurman’s victory).
Cyprus is also a neighbour. And this has become an issue. Beyond the official rhetoric on ‘exceptional relations’ between Athens and Niosia- this was also the response of the government spokesperson, Constantinos Letymbiotis, to a related ‘Politis’ question -the points of friction are now clear for all to see.
A resounding absence
Last Sunday, November 2nd, the 12th memorial service was held for former President of Cyprus and founder of now opposition Democratic Rally (DISY), Glafkos Clerides.
As it happens, the service was not only attended by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, but he also delivered a eulogy. It was a brief stopover in Nicosia, en route to Athens from Cairo-where Mitsotakis was one of 40 leaders-including Christodoulides-invited to the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, the previous day.
The President himself was absent from the Clerides service, traveling to his native Yeroskipou for his father’s own memorial. He sent Interior Minister Constandinos Ioannou in his stead. No one missed the resounding absence, both in Cyprus and Greece, political leadership, public opinion or otherwise. It was too much of a big elephant to roll over.
The First Lady of Greece couldn't resist and commented on the matter quite vocally and undiplomatically. ‘The Prime Minister of Greece came to Cyprus to attend the memorial service of the patriarch of the Right and the President of Cyprus had other business and was absent’.
It was different last year. Christodoulides not only attended but also had the time to engage in conversation at the so-called ‘consolation coffee’- customary in such cases-at the Democratic Rally offices on Pindarou street. And conditions were more difficult at the time, as the Christodoulides election victory was still raw in the minds of DISY officials and members, many of which considered him a ‘political traitor’ to his party, for claiming the Presidency. That wound is still hemorrhaging.
Excuses
One could argue that the excuse was valid. The Clerides memorial did coincide with that of his father, because it was moved back, so the Greek PM could attend (Clerides died on 15/11/2013). But memorial services can be rescheduled and the President could have simply moved his own father’s service, if he really wanted to attend.
It should be noted that by letter to the Ministry of Defense, the Democratic Rally requested a National Guard military salute for the arrival of the Greek Prime Minister, which the Ministry duly refused, saying that the Mitsotakis visit was private.
The President’s Office claimed that while the two leaders were in Cairo, the Greek Prime Minister did not inform Christodoulides of his Cyprus visit the next day-but it has to be said that the Mitsotakis attendance was public knowledge for over a month. Besides he could not just turn up uninvited at the Clerides memorial and the DISY event.
Crisis
This was a culmination of an escalating crisis, clearly highlighted on October 5th. Following a barrage of statements and counter-statements between the Ministers of Finance (the "bad cop" of GSI) and Energy (the "good cop" of GSI) in Cyprus with officials of the Greek government and the Coordinator of the project in Athens), the Cyprus President wagged his finger at Maximou with volleys directed at the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE).
"If the Operator thinks that the Cypriot government can be blackmailed, he obviously doesn't know who he's dealing with. The government is here to support the interests of the Cypriot people’.
It is a well-known fact that the President and CEO of ADMIE, Manousos Manousakis, may be a red flag for the Presidential Palace, but he enjoys the absolute trust of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou responded the next day, essentially accusing Nicosia of ‘constantly conflicting interests’, referring to the Makis Keravnos stance as challenging the project in principle. ‘The Hellenic Republic does not blackmail, it only speaks institutionally. Is it ever possible...". [Open TV, 6/10/2025], Papastavrou noted.
A PR show
There had been a preceding "staged display of smiles and familiarity" so that a message of "good relations" between Athens - Nicosia would be sent. On September 23, 2025, in New York, a meeting between Christodoulides and Mitsotakis took place during which the GSI differences were discussed, with the aim of defusing the accumulated tensions of the entire preceding period. As cameras were rolling and trying to look relaxed, the President asked the Prime Minister to shake hands so they could show that the ‘climate prevailing between them did not correspond to press reports’.
He wanted to come
Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself had expressed the desire to attend the Clerides memorial - some maintain that he wanted to send a number of messages to President Christodoulides and his circle, but also to Athens, as developments are forthcoming in Euro-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue, as well as the region's energy deliberations, which is why both Greece and Cyprus should be well prepared, coordinated and... beloved.
He also wanted to make it clear that the sister party in Cyprus is the Democratic Rally. That’s why he also stopped over for the customary coffee. Without obviously naming Christodoulides, he spoke about the so called rejectionist Cyprus issue front in Greece (including officials of his New Democracy Party), but also the President and his inner circle who are beginning to create a climate reminiscent of 2004 - undermining the new Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman from day one. Mitsotakis further referred to the Glafkos Clerides's political career, his patriotic realism and the political ethos he represented.
Mitsotakis's messages
[Memorial speech at the Clerides memorial]
"In an era when others chose the easy path of slogans, he followed the difficult road of truth. While many sought applause, he sought solutions, with the imprint of his political conception reflecting the Venizelist approach, which did not submit to the flow of events, but always attempted to shape it."
"This was the 'beacon' of Glafcos Clerides's course. The interests of his homeland, which he never ceased serving even for a day, as he belonged to a generation to which my father also belonged, born from the clamour of the anti-fascist war, but also nurtured in the battles of democracy. It was, indeed, a generation of a different 'mettle.' It is not, after all, coincidental that they were bound by a deep personal friendship."
"They were united, however, by the position that true patriotism is not imprisoned in easy rhetoric. And this, moreover, constitutes the difficult choice, far from the insults of populism and the counterfeit words that may caress the ears, but distort judgment and thought."
"This I believe constitutes the most pivotal lesson of Glafcos's legacy. Politics is not fame and glory, it means devotion and service, it means courage and sacrifice."
"The bonds of the party of which I have the honour to be the leader, with the Democratic Rally founded by Glafcos Clerides, are well known. The same with my personal esteem, which now unites me with Annita Demetriou, as well as the fruitful cooperation I had with all the previous presidents of the Democratic Rally."
"I choose to speak about the present and future of the joint efforts of Cyprus and Greece in the current international environment. An environment of instability, constant upheavals, with new critical stakes for both our countries. Stakes which we can, however, now face armed with our own capabilities and supported by our own alliances, which we are also methodically building."
"Athens and Nicosia march together with absolute alignment on the same path, with consistency and determination, achieving moreover, after Crans-Montana and a long period of inertia, the resumption of informal discussions on Cyprus under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. A development to which the Hellenic Republic also contributed decisively, always in concert with the government of the Republic of Cyprus."
"Clerides's experience and the distillate of recent decades teach us that immobilisation can ultimately entail regression, but also that behind the pseudo-patriotism of the present often hide the failures of the future. We don't need them, neither in Nicosia or Athens. We need the patriotism of responsibility, realism and results."