With Nicosia and Athens presumably on a new GSI path following a meeting between the energy ministers of the two countries, George Panastasiou was asked on the specific results that the meeting yielded, namely the transfer of the project’s license to ADMIE, the Greek competent energy authority.
In remarks to the Cyprus News Agency, he noted that the transfer was clear indication of what was agreed upon so that all pending matters can move toward some resolution and the GSI avoids institutional and regulatory obstacles.
‘This action is declaring the interest of Cyprus in the most official manner’, Papanastasiou noted.
The geopolitical dimension of the electricity interconnector, requires management by entities such as the implementing body itself and the European Commission, the Cyprus Energy Minister added, making clear that the GSI was going ahead.
‘As long as it’s delayed, however, new conditions are created which must be continuously assessed.’
He referred to the publication of Raek’s ownership transfer decisions as ‘a solution that had to be found’, adding that such matters created pointless discussions which caused mistrust between the parties.
‘Trust is essentially being developed, trust is growing,’ he said, adding that the positions expressed by President Christodoulides and Prime Minister Mitsotakis were crystal clear.
‘Within this framework we will do everything possible to bridge whatever regulatory, institutional and other differences exist," the energy minister told CNA.
In regard to the geopolitical dimension, Papanastasiou indicated that it requires management, which must be carried out by entities "such as the implementing body itself, the European Union."
He pointed to the fact that the Commission had a role to play as the project was also European, calling on everyone to refrain from excessive public remarks. ‘Any other comment around this issue is superfluous,’ he stressed.
Papanastasiou said that both sides would keep statements to a minimum, investing more human capital and towards implementation instead.
He further disclosed that the European Energy Commissioner will be fully briefed on the project geopolitics.
Asked whether the auction of Treasury Bills to the tune of €25 million announced yesterday by the Ministry of Finance for October 20 is related to covering the first installment of financial obligations toward the project, the Minister said that as far as he knew, there was no connection between the two.