Hurriyet: Greece and France prepare ‘French formula’ for East Med cable

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Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has reported a “French formula” to restart the Eastern Mediterranean electricity interconnector, with the aim of coordinating the work and avoiding a new confrontation at sea.

Citing the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Hurriyet’s Athens correspondent Duygu Leloglu wrote that Greece and France are preparing a notice to coastal states in the region, including Turkey, that cable-laying will resume in October. The survey vessel is expected to sail under the French flag.

According to Kathimerini, as reported by Hurriyet, Athens and Paris have agreed the wording of the notice. It would identify a French-flagged ship, the survey coordinates and the period of operations.

Hurriyet said a central element of the Greek approach is the French flag and that Paris may issue the notice itself. The aim, the paper wrote, is for Greece and the Republic of Cyprus to resume cable-laying “without confronting Ankara directly.”

Turkey says it does not oppose undersea cables or international connectivity projects. Turkish diplomatic sources quoted by Hurriyet said Ankara objects to surveys or laying work in waters where it claims sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Those sources said the vessels’ flag state should first contact Ankara through diplomatic channels to arrange coordination and reduce the risk of incidents. Hurriyet said Ankara considers that position consistent with international law and state practice.

The paper concluded that the use of a French-flagged ship, and the possibility that France would send the notice, places Paris at the centre of the plan. “All eyes are now on France’s next move,” it wrote.

Source: Sigmalive, citing Hurriyet and Kathimerini

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