Cyprus president seeks to ease tensions over subsea cable project

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides connected Monday sought to downplay tensions with Greece implicit the subsea electrical cablegram planned to nexus continental Europe to the East Mediterranean, saying bilateral ties were “stronger than ever.”

Speaking up of a league successful Limassol, Christodoulides was asked if there was a situation successful Cyprus-Greece relations pursuing caller developments regarding the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI).

“The relations betwixt Nicosia and Athens, the relations of the Cypriot authorities with the Greek government, my narration with the Greek Prime Minister [Kyriakos Mitsotakis] are stronger than ever before,” Christodoulides said. “I want to nonstop a message: Those who stake connected a rupture of relations betwixt the Greek authorities and the Cypriot government, oregon my narration with the Greek premier minister, will beryllium disappointed.”

His remarks came aft a study successful Sunday’s Cypriot paper Phileleftheros claimed that ADMIE, Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator, filed an objection with RAEK, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority, challenging its determination to o.k. the betterment of €82 million, including the close to cod €25 cardinal for January-December 2025. ADMIE, the project’s promoter, reportedly seeks designation to retrieve €251 cardinal successful expenses incurred so far, earlier the task is completed.

The study drew a crisp effect from Christodoulides connected Sunday, who said: “If the caput of ADMIE thinks that the Cypriot authorities tin beryllium blackmailed with letters oregon paid announcements, helium evidently does not cognize who helium is dealing with.” 

ADMIE aboriginal issued a statement denying the report.

Mitsotakis convened a gathering connected Sunday day connected the GSI, attended by elder officials from the Environment and Energy Ministry and ADMIE. 

When asked connected Monday if helium had spoken with Mitsotakis aft the meeting, Christodoulides declined to comment, saying: “The lone happening I want to notation is what I referred to earlier, which answers each related questions.”

Meanwhile, Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said connected Monday that the GSI task would lone proceed if “concerns successful Nicosia implicit its viability” are addressed. 

However, helium sought to play down immoderate hazard to bilateral ties, saying: “Relations betwixt Greece and Cyprus are not disrupted by projects.”