Turkey's Defense Minister: 'We Have Been Against the Occupation of Crimea from Day One'

Turkey is making every effort to reduce tensions in the Black Sea region. All disputes in the region should be resolved through diplomatic means and negotiations,” said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, as reported by Anadolu.

He also emphasized that the Montreux Convention of 1936 has established a certain status quo in the Black Sea. “Thanks to this, the balance of power has been maintained in the Black Sea region, security and stability have been ensured. We state this on every occasion, and it is vital,” Akar said.

Turning to the topic of the Ukraine-Russia crisis, Akar noted that Turkey has expressed its clear stance on this issue from the very first day at the highest level. “We have been against the occupation of Crimea from the beginning. We have also stated that we support Ukraine's territorial integrity and continue to stand by our positions. We advocate for sanity and a balanced approach to resolving tensions in the region, and in this regard, we sincerely wish for the countries of the Black Sea region to be in peace, dialogue, tranquility, and prosperity,” Akar added.

Akar emphasized that Turkey is against any further escalation of tensions in the Black Sea. He reminded that Turkey is the country with the longest coastline on the Black Sea and called on all parties to maintain calm, cooperation, consultation, and dialogue.