If it is judged that Turkey is in a state of war then the Bosphorus Straits will be closed, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu but said that even if the straits are closed, Russia has the right under the Montreux Treaty to demand the return of its ships to their base. Experts, he said, are studying the issue.
Speaking to a group of Turkish journalists in Kazakhstan, Mevlut Cavusoglu said of the Montreux Convention that "if we legally accept the state of war, this process will start and we can limit the passage of warships according to developments."
Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ukraine has made an official request on this issue and stressed that the articles are quite clear and that Turkey will implement the Montreux Convention without hesitation, as it has done so far.
However, he noted that the situation may differ depending on whether the crisis between the two countries is considered a war (with Turkey's involvement). "In a war in which Turkey is not a party, there are measures that can be taken regarding the countries that are parties. When necessary, Turkey can stop the passage of warships through the Straits," he said."
Asked whether the current situation can be considered a war (with Turkey's involvement), Cavusoglu said that "our experts are working on it. If we legally accept the state of war, this process will start and we can limit the passage of warships depending on the developments."
The Turkish foreign minister said, however, that "there is something special in the Montreux Convention. If ships of countries that are parties to the war are asked to return to their bases, then it should be allowed. Even if we prohibit it, the Russians have such a right. While her treaty was being signed Russia had managed to add this article in her favour. These are regulated in Articles 19, 20 and 21; at the end it says that if the ship of the coastal country wants to pass with a request to return to its base, this is allowed."
Source: CNA
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