By Gifts Antoniou

To separate the work of electric connection Greece – Cyprus by the great picture of GREEK – Cypriot relations Athens and Nicosia rushed yesterday. As it was now clear that the “Thorns” Around the cable is real and is not immediately visible when and how they will be overcome, the last one the two sides want is the differences for that particular project to ‘Poison’ Overall the climate.

The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidesrushed to declare that “Cypriot government’s relations with the Greek government are stronger than ever.”while from Athens the government spokesman, Paul Marinakisstated that “Greece -Cyprus relations have been and remain strong and will not be disturbed regardless of the course of the implementation of an electrical interconnection project.”

However, yesterday, in the most formal way on the part of Athens, the landscape cleared about the points where there are differences. The Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou He first pointed out that relations between Greece and Cyprus are unmistakable and are above any work and then rushed to fully cover ADMIE and respond to Nicosia’s reaction that he was not blackmailed. As Mr Papastavrou said, “51% of ADMIE belongs to the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Republic does not blackmail.” And then set the context of the problem. As he said, the project has cost so far 300 million eurosthat ADMIE has fully paid. He also added that the Cypriot side is constantly conflicting with conflicting messages with the Cypriot Minister of Finance, Maki thundereven after the recent meeting Mitsotaki – Christodoulides In New York, to question the viability of the project in principle.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritisput on another dimension: “The issue of the Greece-Cyprus electric interconnection is a very important program that removes the energy isolation of Cyprus. For this reason it is primarily major and important to Cyprus. It has no additional energy value for Greece. But it has a great geopolitical for Hellenism as a whole » said. The reference to the great geopolitical value of the work, of course, concerns its imprint on the development of energy policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, against which Turkey has reacted. Mr Gerapetritis confirmed, for his part, that after Sunday’s meeting at Maximus Palace rushed to Athens. That in substance the work ‘Freezes’ As long as these pending. “Until the pendulum is in fact lifted and there is a single attitude for commitment, we will remain in the current situation.”he said.