ANKARA
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has described as "odd" Russian concerns over Turkey’s implementation of Montreux Straits Convention.
Russia claimed earlier this month that American vessels exceeded the waiting period in the Black Sea region specified in the convention. The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded on Thursday that only one U.S. vessel, “USS Taylor,” stayed longer than 21 days - specified in the convention - as it experienced a breakdown and had to be taken out with the help of a towing boat.
The Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Russia’s claims were “impossible to understand” as the vessel’s extended stay was due to extraordinary circumstances.
"Turkey will continue to enforce the convention meticulously, in the way that it has done for 78 years," said the ministry.
The other vessel, "USS Truxtun", left the Black Sea in 21 days, the statement added.
The Montreux Convention, in force since 1936, regulates the transit of naval warships over the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits. According to the agreement, non-Black Sea state warships are permitted to stay in the Black Sea no longer than 21 days.
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