“The Italian ship continued its search in Casso as usual after the tension was decompressed. There was absolutely no application, no licensing from the Turkish authorities” emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis in response to a Topical Question of the Independent Member of Parliament Michalis Hourdakis about “them provocative Turkish statements for the Aegean on the occasion of the incident in Kasos»

For the electric interconnection of Crete – Cyprus and eventually Israel, Mr. Gerapetritis said that as he has consistently repeated several times this “is a matter of mutual interest for the European Union and is therefore partially financed by the EU and has emerged as a major project for the European Commission. In the context of this operation, the Greek Government, through the competent Service, has given permission to the Italian ship to carry out the relevant investigations and the pointing of the electronic cables. Of course, strictly adhering to what is expressly stated in the Greek legislation”

Regarding the incident in Kasos, the minister said that “the ship left Greek territorial waters, in an area already defined by the Greek-Egyptian agreement. There was indeed an obstruction by Turkish ships. The ship continued its research as normal after the tension was decompressed and its research activity was completed completely according to the plan».

Mr. Gerapetritis, clarified that “there was absolutely no application, no licensing from the Turkish authorities. Accordingly, neither directly nor indirectly in any way was there recognition of Turkey’s sovereign rights”.

As for how the tension was decompressed, the minister stated that this was done “through the open channels of communication that remain open with the neighbor»

The minister underlined that “this project will continue as normal, according to the planned and approved plans by the European Commission and according to the planning of the company itself”.

Regarding the Declaration of Athens, Mr. Gerapetritis said that “indeed it is a text of high symbolism and this because for the first time the will of the two parties to proceed together in the context of good neighborliness and friendly settlement is recorded, so that no crises are produced. But there is an explicit reference on the part of Turkey to respect international law” and added that “we did not expect within 16 months, Turkey will distance itself from doctrines that it has brought to the surface for decades, such as demilitarization or gray zones or the maximalist demands concerning the EEZ or the continental shelf”, but “we consider it crucial that we are in a dialogue regime, so that tensions are not generated and crises is something that is not only beneficial, but also necessary for the country”. Mr. Gerapetritis, stated that within this 16 months, these communication channels have worked, so that crises are not produced, but also in a series of activities and sectors. The minister explicitly stated that “we are not going to discuss sovereignty issues, the issues that Turkey considers to be related to the demarcation»

Regarding Maritime Spatial Planning, Mr. Gerapetritis said that “will be filed timely and properly. There will be no extension, according to European Law».

As for Turkey’s casus belli remaining, he replied that “it does not conform to international law and should not exist. I hope that we can take steps towards restoring trust so that it can be reversed.”

THE Independent Member of Parliament Michalis Hourdakis for his part he recalled the recent “provocative and insulting statements” by the Turkish Minister of National Defense saying that “I understand that you are not at all responsible for what the neighboring Ministers say, but apart from data and what you have mentioned and it is repeated regarding the Declaration of Athens” what “are the actions that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take so that it does not appear that we are staying idle and show that we recognize the Turkish continental shelf claims?» Mr. Regarding the Minister’s answers, Chordakis asked for information on how the tension in Kasos was decompressed and called on him to refute the relevant reports of the Turkish Minister of National Defense that he was asked for permission to continue the investigations of the Italian ship. The member of parliament acknowledged that indeed within 16 months from the signing of the Declaration of Athens, the climate and the movements that have been made for decades cannot be reversed, but “is there any tendency to improve?” Mr. Chordakis, agreed that there should be a channel open even with our enemy, but wondered “why don’t we want to have such a “warm relationship” with Russia?». The Independent Member of Parliament asked why the completion of the Maritime Spatial Planning is being delayed and raised the issue of the remaining cause of war that Turkey has not withdrawn.