[Text/Observer Network Ju Feng]
According to an international convention , Turkey has control over two important straits connecting Mediterranean and Black Sea , and can restrict the passage of warships during wartime. Today, Türkiye first called the Russian army's actions in its official words war, and the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that he would implement all the provisions of this international convention. This means Türkiye has hinted that it will "set restrictions" on the Russian navy's access.
prevents Russian warships from passing, which is also a request made by Ukraine to Turkey three days ago, but Türkiye did not agree at the time. It is also worth mentioning that Russian Navy is gathering on a large scale in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told CNN Turkish channel on February 27 that Turkish has determined that the current situation in Ukraine has turned into a war.
"Is this a conflict or a war? We have made a decision. Article 19 of the " Montreux Convention " is written very clearly, it is a war."
The Montreux Convention was signed in Montreux, Switzerland in 1936. According to the convention, Türkiye has control over Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, and can restrict the passage of warships during wartime or when threatened. These two straits connect the Mediterranean Sea, Marmara Sea and the Black Sea in turn.
But Cavusoglu also mentioned that there is an exemption in 19 articles, that is, warships of warships in belligerents are allowed to return to their home port through the strait. "We will implement all the terms of the convention openly and transparently."
The red circle circle is the geographical location of the two straits
. According to Reuters earlier today, Turkey has revised the official wording of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict , calling the situation in Ukraine a "war."
Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin posted in English on Twitter on the 27th, saying, "On the fourth day of the Ukrainian War, we repeat President Erdogan's call for immediately stopping the Russian offensive and starting the ceasefire negotiations. We will continue to help the Ukrainian people and end this unfair and illegal bloody war."
Combined with the Montreux Convention, this statement is undoubtedly a clear signal. In addition, Fahredin Alton, head of media and communication affairs for the Turkish President, also announced that "we are witnessing another war in our region." He reiterated Erdogan's proposal to mediate on .
It is worth mentioning that the Russian Navy gathered in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to the official newspaper Navy News of the British Royal Navy on February 24, the scale of deployment of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean has reached far exceeding the previous level.
European Space Agency's Sentinel 2 satellite on the morning of the same day showed that a fleet consisting of two "Glorious" class cruisers - Marshal Ustinov and Varyag , 2 "Dreadnought" class missile destroyers, 2 missile frigates, 2 "Kiro" class submarshal , 1 light frigate, 2 assault boats and various auxiliary ships, a total of 16 ships, , are sailing closely in the Eastern Mediterranean, as if they were sailing towards Syria 's Tartus - the only remaining overseas military base in Russia outside the former Soviet Union's Franchise Republic.
Image source: Naval News
Previously, Türkiye did not stop Russian warships from passing through key straits at the request of Ukraine.
According to Xinhua News Agency earlier reports, Ukrainian officials said on the 24th that Russian ground troops attacked from three directions: east, north and south. Reuters reported on the 25th that on the southern front, Russian troops landed in Ukraine from the Black Sea and the ports of the Azov Sea. Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasily Bodner said on the 24th that he had requested Türkiye to close the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, hoping to get a positive answer.
But Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu responded on the 25th that based on relevant international law, Turkish cannot prevent Russian warships from passing through these two straits.
Cavusoglu said on the 25th that Turkey is studying Ukraine's request, but according to a clause in the Montreux Convention, Russia has the right to drive the ship back to its home port in the Black Sea. Cavusoglu said that Turkish legal experts are trying to define whether the current conflict in Ukraine can be called a war. Even if it is determined to be a war, Turkish can only prevent Russian warships from sailing in one direction, that is, from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and cannot prevent Russian warships from returning to port.
On the same day, Cavusoglu also reiterated that Türkiye opposes imposing economic sanctions on Russia.
Reuters reported that Türkiye has established good relations with Russia and Ukraine. In a time of domestic economic turmoil, any excessive measures taken against Moscow may damage a large amount of energy and commodities and imports and tourism.
Previously, Turkish President Erdogan called on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to cease fire as soon as possible, saying that Turkey is also working on this. The Turkish President and Foreign Minister have repeatedly stated on different occasions that Turkey is willing to act as a neutral mediator of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and welcomes Russia and Ukrainian dialogue in Türkiye. Today, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu held another telephone conference with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to discuss humanitarian situations such as ceasefire and evacuation.
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