Turkey has right to not sanction Russia, prevent warship passing: CHP
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Ozgur Ozel believes Turkey has the right to implement the Montreaux Convention which prevents warships from entering the Turkish Straits.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (AP/Pool)
During an interview with the Turkish daily Posta, the leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, stated his belief that it is "correct" for the country not to join sanctions against Russia as it is also right to implement the Montreux Convention.
The Montreaux Convention prevents warships from entering the Turkish Straits.
"I believe Turkey's balanced position in relations between Ukraine and Russia is correct. Turkey took a position supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine but took a mediating role instead of applying sanctions against Russia. It did not give in to US sanctions. I believe it is right to implement Montreux and other steps," the leader said.
Last year, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin revealed that Turkey wouldn't sanction Russia as it could hurt the Turkish economy.
Read next: Turkey-Russia bank relations did not succumb to US pressure
Turkey decided to take a neutral position regarding the war as opposed to its NATO allies, hoping to mediate a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev.
Ankara also announced that it would preserve its sovereign interests, which dictate having good relations with Russia. This saw the launch of massive joint projects, including Russia's gas hub in Turkey and grain-export routes, which gained more importance after the Black Sea initiative collapsed.
It is worth mentioning that Western countries are expressing increasing concern regarding the deepening economic cooperation between Russia and Turkey, especially since the US has previously warned countries that it would impose "secondary sanctions" against any country that attempts to help Russia evade them.
Turkey, after the NATO-orchestrated war in Ukraine started in 2022, has been deepening its economic and trade ties with Russia, prompting Western worries. In June 2022, Deputy US Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo visited Turkey to warn Ankara against doing business with Russia.
The US Treasury in September 2022 issued a warning against Turkey if they were to go through with the Russian Mir payment system. At the time, this alarmed Turkey: The 5 Turkish banks that were participating in the payment system quit it.
Meanwhile, Turkey not joining the West's sanctions against Russia has raised concerns in the European Union with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressing his concerns over the deepening of economic relations between Moscow and Ankara, stating it is "a growing cause for concern."
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