Turkey warns countries from passing warships through its straits
Rahshan Saglam
Press TV, Istanbul
Turkey has closed the passage of warships thorough its Straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles. The decision was taken after Ankara called Russia’s military action in Ukraine a “war.” President Erdogan said Turkey is using the authority given to it by the 1963 Montreux convention pact on passage of its straits to prevent the escalation of the Russia and Ukraine conflict.
Erdogan said he was “very saddened” by Moscow’s attack on its neighbor, describing the move as “unacceptable”, adding that Turkey will not abandon its ties with both Ukraine and Russia.
The Turkish defense minister in his turn asked all sides to respect the international pact Turkey has worked by assuring that it is Ankara’s right to limit passage in the straits in wartime.
Kiev had already asked Turkey to close its straits to the Russian warships as a response to developments in Ukraine. The move will prevent more Russian ships from reaching the black sea from where it had launched attacks on Ukrainian southern coast.
Analysts say Turkey’s decision does not only help Ukraine but also Russia, as the decision prevents all warships, not only Russian ones from crossing the straits.
Turkey maintains good ties with both Russia and Ukraine as it bought S-400 missiles from the first and sold drones to the second and does not seem willing to risk taking sides in this conflict.
It seems that Turkey is trying to be impartial in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, while it’s trying to mediate to end the fight with President Erdogan making some calls and pushing for a political solution.
Turkey has implemented an international pact on naval passage to the Black Sea. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has the right to close two of its straits to warships. This, a week after Ukraine asked Ankara to activate the international pact and prevent the transit of Russian warships from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
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