Turkey joins peace efforts: possible new Black Sea ceasefire regime
Turkey's NATO Permanent Representative Basat Ozturk announced talks with Russia and Ukraine on a temporary partial ceasefire in the Black Sea to protect civilian cargo ships.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh2 min read
Turkey is holding talks with Russia and Ukraine on achieving a temporary and partial ceasefire in the Black Sea in order to protect commercial vessels carrying civilian cargo. This was stated by Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Basat Ozturk.
According to him, ships are being attacked by both sides of the conflict, and this creates serious risks for global trade and supply chains. Ozturk noted that shipments of energy resources, food and fertilizers are especially under threat.
"Ships are becoming targets from both sides, and this is wrong. We are working with both sides to achieve a temporary, partial ceasefire and to ensure that commercial vessels with civilian cargo are not attacked."
Ozturk spoke in Brussels at the Turkey-EU business summit organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the European Business Summit (EBS). He took part in the session "NATO and Europe: Security Architecture after the Ankara Summit" together with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska.
Return of the grain deal
Ozturk recalled the Black Sea Grain Initiative concluded with Turkey's mediation and suggested repeating such a step.
"Remember the Black Sea grain deal, in which Turkey acted as mediator. It worked well and prevented a global food crisis. We can do this again."
Montreux and control over the Black Sea
The ambassador noted that Turkey applies the Montreux Convention to maintain stability in the Black Sea. According to him, three days after February 24, Turkey closed the straits to vessels of the warring parties.
"By applying the Montreux Convention in the Black Sea, we keep the region as stable as possible. Remember, we closed the straits three days after February 24. This was called
Source: cnnturk.com
