The war between Russia and Ukraine officially started in the morning today. According to the latest developments, Russia entered the Ukraine region with its military units. After this hot news, which fell like a bomb on the world agenda, the articles of the Montreux Straits Convention are curious.
WHAT IS THE MONTRÖ STRAITS AGREEMENT?
The Montreux Straits Convention, whose articles and details have been researched, is the contract that regulates the transit regime from the Turkish Straits (Çanakkale and Istanbul) and the security of the straits region. It replaced the Straits Convention signed with the Lausanne Treaty in 1923.
In parallel with the support of the United Kingdom, which has always been closely interested in the status of the straits and the transit regime of the ships, it was decided to support Turkey’s proposal at the meeting of the Permanent Council of the Balkan Entente held in Belgrade on May 4, 1936. The conference, which would change the regime of the straits when Turkey’s initiative was accepted by the other contracts of the Lausanne Straits Convention, was held in Montreux, Switzerland on 22 June 1936. The meetings lasted for two months and with the new Straits Convention signed by Bulgaria, France, Great Britain, Australia, Greece, Japan, Romania, Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Turkey on 20 July 1936, Turkey’s restricted rights were restored and the sovereignty of the straits region was restored to Turkey. passed to.
In accordance with the agreement Turkey made with Soviet Russia (non-aggression pact), support of the Soviet Union was also received.
WHAT ARE THE ARTICLES OF THE MONTRÖ STRAITS CONVENTION?
In time of war, Turkey will enjoy the freedom of transit and round-trip (transportation) through the Straits, regardless of the flag and cargo, if it is not a warlord. Piloting and towing (tugboating) remains optional.
If Turkey considers itself to be threatened by the imminent danger of war, they will enjoy full freedom of transit and round-trip (transport) through the Straits; however, ships will have to enter the Straits during the daytime and the passage will have to be made each time by the route shown by the Turkish authorities. Guidance may be required in a situation; however, it will not be subject to a fee.
In peacetime, they will enjoy full freedom of transit and round-trip (transport) through the Straits, without any formalities – except health inspection – regardless of day and night, flag and cargo.
- If Turkey is at war in time of war, merchant ships that are not tied to a country at war with Turkey will enjoy the freedom of transit and round-trip (transportation) in the Straits, provided that they do not assist the enemy in any way. These ships will enter the Straits during the daytime and the passage will be made by the way indicated by the Turkish authorities each time.
WHAT ARE THE ITEMS TO BE APPLIED DURING WAR?
Warships of any warring State shall be prohibited from passing through the Straits, except in cases of assistance to an attacked State and under a mutual aid treaty binding Turkey.
In time of war, if Turkey is at war, the Turkish Government will be able to act completely as it wishes regarding the passage of warships.
If Turkey considers itself facing the threat of an imminent war threat, Turkey will start to implement the transitional regime of war, but; If the League of Nations Council does not find the measures taken by Turkey to be justified by a 2/3 majority, Turkey will have to take these measures back.
In time of war, if Turkey is not a belligerent, warships will enjoy full freedom of transit and round-trip (transportation) in the Straits, under the above-mentioned conditions.
Warships belonging to the Black Sea littoral or non-littoral states that have left the mooring ports can cross the Bosphorus in order to reach their own ports.
- Warships of warring states are prohibited from attempting any seizure, exercise of right of control (visit) and any other hostile action in the Straits.
WHAT ARE THE ITEMS TO BE APPLIED IN PEACE TIME?
The Black Sea littoral states shall have the right to pass their submarines, which they have built or purchased outside this sea, through the Straits to join their naval bases, if Turkey has been notified in time of the commissioning or purchasing. Submarines of the aforementioned states may pass through the Straits to be repaired at stalls outside this sea, provided that detailed information is given to Turkey on this matter in a timely manner. In both the first and second cases, the submarines would have to go by day and over the water and pass through the Straits alone.
The highest total tonnage of all foreign naval forces that may pass through the Straits shall not exceed 15,000 tons.
Regardless of the purpose of their presence in the Black Sea, warships of non-riparian states will not stay in this sea for more than twenty-one days.
For warships to pass through the Straits, it will be necessary to give a preliminary notification to the Turkish Government through diplomacy. The usual duration of such advance notice will be eight days; however, this period is fifteen days for non-Black Sea littoral states.
If, at any time, the tonnage of the strongest navy (fleet) in the Black Sea exceeds the tonnage of the strongest navy (fleet) in this sea at the time of signing the contract, at least 10,000 tons, other riparian countries may increase the tonnage of the Black Sea navies up to a maximum of 45,000 tons. To this end, each riparian State shall inform the Turkish Government on 1 January and 1 July of each year the total tonnage of its navy (fleet) in the Black Sea; The Turkish Government will also share this information with other non-riparian states before the League of Nations.
- However, if one or several non-Black Sea littoral States wish to send naval forces to this sea for a humanitarian purpose, the total of this force cannot exceed 8,000 tons under any assumption.