If Turkey is found to be at war then the Bosphorus Straits will be closed, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu said, but said that even if the Straits are closed, Russia has the right under the Montreux Treaty to demand the return of its ships. at their base. Experts, he said, are studying the issue.
Speaking to a group of Turkish journalists in Kazakhstan, Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu said of the Montreux Convention that “if we legally accept the state of war, this process will begin.” and we can restrict the passage of warships according to developments. “
Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu stated that Ukraine has made a formal request on this issue and stressed that the articles are quite clear and that Turkey will implement the Montreux Convention without hesitation, as to date.
However, he noted that the situation may differ depending on whether the crisis between the two countries is considered a war (with the involvement of Turkey). “In a war in which Turkey is not a party, there are measures that can be taken regarding the countries that are parties. “If necessary, Turkey can stop the passage of warships through the Straits,” he said.
Asked if the current situation could be considered war (with Turkish involvement), Tsavousoglu said we are working on it. “If we accept the state of war legally, this process will begin and we can limit the passage of warships according to developments.”
The Turkish Foreign Minister said, however, that “there is something special in the Montreux Convention. If the ships of the countries that are parties to the war are asked to return to their bases, then it must be allowed. Even if we forbid it, the Russians have such a right. By the time her contract was signed, Russia had managed to add this article in its favor. These are regulated by Articles 19, 20 and 21. In the end he says that if he wants the ship of the coastal country to pass with a request for return to its base, this is allowed “.
KYPE
