EuroAsia Interconnector

They both believe that there are excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov meets with Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias.

Greece, Israel, Cyprus and the United States agreed to enhance cooperation in energy, cyber and infrastructure security, Greek Energy Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said on Wednesday after ministers of the four countries met in Athens.

The new Greek government will toe the line of its predecessor on the urgent need for and the safeguarding of the construction of the Crete-Attica power interconnection project, while supporting the international connection of Greece with Cyprus and Israel, according to statements made by Energy Minister Kostis Hatzidakis after his visit to Cyprus.

The project for the power interconnection between Crete and Attica is facing further delays, as the authority that examines corporate cases before they go to court (AEPP) has decided to suspend the tender for the procurement and installation of two converter stations and an electric substation.

An historic framework agreement was signed in Cairo on Wednesday for the construction and commissioning of the EuroAfrica Interconnector which will interconnect the electricity networks of Egypt and Cyprus by the project promoter, EuroAfrica Interconnector Limited.

The common front between the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) and the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) against the Cypriot EuroAsia consortium appears to be cracking due to the project for the power interconnection of Crete with Attica.

For the first time in 25 years, Crete suffered a blackout on 22 March following an explosion to an old transformer which plunged the Greek island into darkness and made it vulnerable to future power outages.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took to Twitter in the early hours of Thursday to hail a "productive meeting" with the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Israel in Jerusalem.

"Had a productive meeting with leaders from #Israel, #Greece and #Cyprus on key issues in the Eastern Mediterranean," Pompeo tweeted.

In a joint statement in Jerusalem on Wednesday, the leaders of Greece, Israel and Cyprus and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, agreed to further entrench cooperation between all four countries, boosting energy and security cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

A three-way summit between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel with the participation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a strong message to Ankara regarding energy security and its hostile behaviour in the Eastern Mediterranean.