Turkey canceled and postponed a number of NATO military exercises in connection with the provisions of the Montreo Convention on the prevention of warships in the Black Sea, said the Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Chavushoglu.
“We are inside the process (in Ukraine – Ed.), We took on an intermediary role. And each encourages this role. But Turkey can lead this role if it is involved in sanctions (against Russia – ed.). Each visit brings benefits from our role, and many those who see our policy of non -consumption of sanctions led by European countries. We introduced the Montreo Convention, are forced to leave the airspace. Even going beyond the Convention, we ask Russia for ships and passed the exercises NATO, which were planned in advance. We canceled them, postponed them. That is, we play an important role, ”Anadolu said to Cuplash.
Article 19 of the Convention provides that during the war, when Turkey is not a warring side, the warships of the warring sides cannot pass through the straits. There are several exceptions in this rule, for example, if Turkey is obliged to assist the state, which has become a victim of an attack under a mutual assistance agreement. However, warships of the warring sides can go through the straits to return to their ports of the main parking.