Piri Reis set to refuel and continue research in south of Cyprus

Ankara Anatolia news agency reports from Izmir (03.10.11) that a Turkish seismic research ship has completed part of its studies for oil and gas exploration around the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and set sail for the close port of Famagusta in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

The vessel, Koca Piri Reis, is set to resume research on another grid around the divided island next week after refuelling and resupply, the research team’s head, Prof. Dogan Yasar, said yesterday. “We have completed our seismic research on a 1,000 km line, and next Monday we will start working on a 2,400-km line on the orders from the Turkish Petroleum Corporation, which we think will take two to three weeks,” Yasar said. The Turkish energy minister earlier denied media reports that Piri Reis had completed studies and it was set to return home shortly.

Turkish executives commented on oil and natural gas exploration initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus and said Turkey did not have any continental shelf demand in the south of Cyprus. “Piri Reis seismic ship is carrying out activities to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots,” they claimed and added that Piri Reis was exploring oil and natural gas around Cyprus on behalf of the breakaway regime. “TRNC Council of Ministers had granted licence to Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to explore oil and natural gas, and the licenses were not only limited with the north of the island but included permit for seismic studies in the south of the island,” alleged the Turkish executives. They said Piri Reis would continue its mission, and Turkey was supporting Piri Reis’ studies.

Turkish executives also said continental shelf and restricted economic zone problems were solved by 98 percent in the Black Sea and such problems could also be solved in the Mediterranean with concerted efforts and a collective understanding. However, conditions had not occurred to solve the problem in the Mediterranean, and it would be in vain to try to solve this problem without resolving the Cyprus issue and the Arab-Israeli dispute, Turkish executives argued.