Ankara is not opposed to the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), a project to link the electricity networks of Greece and Cyprus via a submarine power cable, but wants written notification of marine surveys to avoid changes to the existing status quo, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said.

Axar.az reports that, in an interview with Greek newspaper Ta Nea, Fidan added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had raised the issue with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during their meeting in New York, describing the project as worthwhile while questioning its cost.

“My president raised the issue in New York, during his meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis. He described the project as worthwhile, saying that I would prefer you to buy electricity from us rather than transport it over a distance of 2,000 kilometres, spending more than €2 billion in European funds," Fidan said.

"From a distance of just 70 miles from mainland Turkiye, I can provide water, electricity and natural gas, from which everyone can benefit: Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and the entire population,” Fidan said.

Fidan also called on Athens to abandon attempts to change the existing status quo in the region, warning that such efforts could lead to bigger problems.

“We do not want the status quo to be disturbed, nor do we want a precedent to be created in a completely wrong way that would cause even bigger problems for both sides. Let us not try to establish a new status quo. Under these conditions, we have no objections. We are positive,” Fidan added.