Nicosia on Wednesday strongly denied a report in a Greek daily alleging that a scenario has been proposed for the ambitious EastMed natural gas pipeline to bypass Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
Director of the President’s Press Office Victoras Papadopoulos, who was asked to comment on the report, said that “this is not the case.”
“Programming or plans on the EastMed route have not changed,” he noted.
In any case, Papadopoulos pointed out, “it is important to remember that studies have been funded by the EU."
He added that:
“all countries in the region who are involved [in the project] including the Republic of Cyprus are taking those steps and are making the effort so that when the time comes the alternatives can be available to the companies who will undertake the project to decide.”
Therefore, he said, “there is no such issue.”
Invited to clarify if the Republic of Cyprus is refuting the report he replied in the affirmative.
To Vima, quoting exclusive information, referred to a change of route of the €7 billion EastMed pipeline which would circumvent the Mediterranean island’s EEZ.
It said the scenario had been proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and that it has been discussed between the leaders of the countries involved in the project.
Τhe EastMed pipeline is a gas pipeline project aiming to connect the gas reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean.
An intergovernmental agreement was signed on January 2, 2020, in Athens between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, regulating various issues among the countries concerned, such as maritime jurisdictions, environmental and security issues.