“Turkey has the right to conduct seismic studies [off Cyprus], according to agreements signed between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We will always use this right,” Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu said at a press conference on October 21, commenting on the tension created after the violation of the Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by Barbaros, a Turkish survey vessel.

The Turkish Prime Minister also stated that if the Cypriot side is claiming that the Turkish Cypriots have no right to the natural resources found in the south of the island, then both sides should discuss the two-state scenario.

After holding a briefing meeting with Energy Minister Taner Yildiz over the issue late on Tuesday Mr. Davutoglu told reporters the following: “The unified state formed in 1960 was not destroyed by Turkey. It was destroyed by the representatives of the Greek junta present on the island in 1974. Now if such a state, either as an imaginary or a real state, is being mentioned, then the Turkish Cypriots have as much right to explore the insular shelf and the exclusive economic area of the island of Cyprus as the Greek Cypriots.”

“Everyone has to accept the international law. If it is not accepted and there are such claims as ‘we are the only ones that have the right to explore the south, because the south part belongs to us and the Turks own the north part,’ then the two-state scenario needs to be discussed,” Mr. Davutoğlu underlined and added that “the necessary precautions for the protection of Barbaros ship have already been taken, so no one should try to create a crisis.”