Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler confirmed that Turkey's adherence to the provisions of the Montreux Convention since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war contributed to preventing the conflict from spreading to wider areas and limiting its repercussions in the Black Sea.
During a joint press conference held today, Wednesday, in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, the Turkish Defense Minister conveyed his country's supportive stance towards Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity from the first day of the war. He pointed to the continued use of dialogue channels with Russia to prevent the escalation of regional crises, within the framework of a meeting bringing together defense ministers and chiefs of staff from Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania.
For his part, Guler expressed concern over the escalating attacks targeting commercial ships in the Black Sea, noting that several had been subjected to attacks during the ongoing war lasting nearly five years. He called on both sides of the conflict to exercise restraint and avoid escalation, warning against targeting ships flying the Turkish flag or operated by Turkish companies, and affirming that Turkey reserves all its legal rights in response to these attacks.
Guler stressed that Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania will continue to take necessary measures to ensure navigation security in the Black Sea, affirming that the safety of trade routes and the security of coastal states constitute a red line that must not be violated. It is worth noting that the Montreux Convention, signed in 1936, allows the passage of warships belonging to non-coastal states in the Black Sea basin through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits, provided that Turkey is notified 15 days in advance and that they remain in the Black Sea for no more than 21 days.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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