Greece does not need Turkey's permission to lay the GSI submarine cable connecting Greece to Cyprus, and it won't be ask...

Greece does not need Turkey's permission to lay the GSI submarine cable connecting Greece to Cyprus, and it won't be asking for one. That was the message from Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hatzivassiliou on Skai on Thursday, pushing back directly against Ankara's demands. Turkey's position, relayed through Turkish sources to Skai on Wednesday, is that any vessel planning to lay cables in waters where Turkey claims sovereign rights must contact Ankara through diplomatic channels beforehand. Hatzivassiliou rejected that framing outright, saying international law requires no such permit, especially not for a peaceful infrastructure project that will link Europe's energy grid to the Middle East. The deputy minister also pointed to Turkey's so-called maritime parks in international waters, calling them an "alla turca approach" designed to respond to legitimate Greek initiatives with illegal ones. He linked Turkey's objections to the GSI cable directly to the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum, which has been rejected by Greece, the European Union, and virtually every relevant international body. "Is there anyone who recognizes it besides Turkey?" he asked. Hatzivassiliou confirmed that planning for the cable is continuing as normal, and noted that the participation of French investment firm Meridiam in the project is a vote of confidence that the project is secure. He also announced that Foreign Minister Gerapetritis will raise Turkey's provocations at the EU Foreign Affairs Council next week. On domestic critics, he fired back at PASOK and other opposition parties, accusing them of contradicting themselves and said the narrative that the government is retreating on national interests is "completely false." #Greece #Turkey #GSICable