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U.S. State Dept: Turkey Permits Passage For U.S. Naval Vessels Through The Straits
 
Turkey had rejected passage for two Georgia bound naval hospital ships through the Bosphorus straits, to avoid the violation of the terms of the Montreux Convention of 1936 that does not allow any military or heavy vessels into the Black Sea, as well as preventing the passage of Russian naval ships to the Mediterranean. Negotiations were being held between the U.S. and Turkey as well as with other NATO allies to find a solution while abiding with the rules set in Montreux Agreement. Robert Wood, the spokesman for the U.S. Department of State has disclosed today that Turkey has agreed to allow the passage for three U.S. navy vessels, two of which are used as hospitals, through the Bosphorus straits. An official from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the U.S. vessels carrying humanitarian aid would pass through the Bosphorus on Friday, August 22 on their way to Georgia. He added that tomorrow two Spanish ships would also pass through the straits into Black Sea. It is reported that the said ships are under the tonnage limit that is set by the Montreux Convention, therefore there were no concerns of a breach. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to make a statement tomorrow on this issue. Source: Hurriyet, Zaman, Turkey, August 20, 2008
Posted at: 2008-08-20
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