The publication of an open letter on the importance of the Montreux convention, signed by one hundred retired admirals, is an unacceptable fact. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this at a press conference on April 5.
“This action in the middle of the night is unacceptable in a country where there have been military coups. No retired military man can interfere with political topics. It has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Even if they were admirals, they have no right to slander our gallant army. Even this very discussion is a threat. We will not allow things that cast a shadow on the army and break its morale, ”Erdogan said during a televised address broadcast on Twitter by the president.
Erdogan also called it a mistake that the military linked the construction of the Istanbul Canal with the Montreux Convention. The President added that the convention was an important document for Turkey, and the country intends to comply with its provisions until a worthy replacement is found.
Thus, the Turkish president reacted to an open letter from 104 retired admirals, who called the Montreux Convention, restoring the country’s rights to the Bofsfort and Dardanelles, a diplomatic victory for the state. They noted that the discussion on the revision of the document due to the project of the Istanbul canal, which should connect the Black and Marmara Seas, is unacceptable.
The Montreux Convention on the Regime of the Black Sea Straits was adopted in 1936. She restored Turkey’s sovereignty over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles. At the same time, the convention preserves the freedom of passage through the straits for the merchant ships of all countries.
The Istanbul project is a shipping canal project that will connect the Black and Marmara Seas bypassing the Bosphorus Strait with its special status. The idea is actively supported by the Turkish authorities led by Erdogan