Kharkiv, Ukraine (Photo: AA)
Turkey does not intend to join sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.
The sanctions will not only affect Russia but also those who impose them, including the European Union countries, Çavuşoğlu said last night (March 1) in a live televised interview on Habertürk.
"We have examined the sanctions one by one. How they will affect our economy, how they will affect our energy supply security, our air space...," the minister said, adding, "In general, we have not joined such sanctions in principle. And we have no inclination to join these sanctions."
There have been no demands or pressures for Ankara imposing sanctions on Moscow, he further noted.
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"Turkey doesn't have to take sides. Turkey has a principled stance. Despite our differences of opinion, we want to improve our relations with both Russia and Ukraine," he remarked.
"We do not have to take sides in a war. On the contrary, we are a country that can equally establish dialogue with both of the two parties for ending the war.
"... If something is wrong, we also have to talk about that. Russia's attack on Ukraine is a violation of international law."
About Turkey's abstaining vote regarding Russia's suspension from the Council of Europe on February 25, Çavuşoğlu said, "Kicking Russia out means Russian citizens can't go to the court of human rights.
Russia withdraws demand for passage through straits
Turkey has implemented the Montreux Convention of the regime of the Turkish Straits "with no double standards" and will continue to do so, Çavuşoğlu also noted.
Recently, Ankara asked Moscow to withdraw its demand for the passage of some ships outside of its Black Sea fleet through the straits, in accordance with the convention, which Russia accepted, said the minister.
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In wartime, Turkey has the right to close the straits to passage of naval ships of belligerent states, with the exception of the ships of Black Sea states returning to their registered bases.
However, three ships that Russia wanted to pass through the straits were not a part of its Black Sea fleet, hence Turkey told Moscow that they won't be allowed to pass, said the minister.
"And we notified all countries that are party to Montreux, saying, 'Russia has withdrawn its request.' Russia or others shouldn't be offended. As long as the Montreux Convention is valid, we will implement it. After all, three of the four ships did not have the right of passage during wartime," he remarked. (VK)
