Cyprus-Forum.com

[repulsewarrior]

The sign of it was given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on April 2. He expressed Russia’s concerns about the U.S. presence in the Black Sea in a way to violate the 1936 Montreux Convention that regulates the passage of military vessels of non-literal countries through the straits. “We have noticed that recently U.S. military vessels on a number of occasions have extended their presence beyond the established limits and these extensions at times failed to meet the rules of the Montreux Convention,” he said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey ... sCatID=429

The Georgian crisis in 2008 once again showed the strategic importance of the Black Sea which caused tension between Turkey and NATO over Ankara’s insistence on the strict implementation of the convention.

The same applies in the current Crimea tension, but there are claims that Turkey is much more flexible in its implementation of the key treaty. It has been claimed that allied vessels’ stay in the Black Sea is exceeding the established limit, 21 days. Some leading NATO countries are pressing Turkey to ease the implementation of the convention. Similar pressure is being applied on Turkey by Russia, which has asked the Turkish government to stick with the convention and not to ruin the decades-old balance in the Black Sea region.

Some NATO countries have noted that Russia’s seizure of the Ukrainian fleet ended Turkey’s status of having the largest fleet in the Black Sea and that there is a need for new balance in the region. That’s why they have asked Turkey to ease the implementation of some of provisions of the Montreux Convention. Russia’s aggression in the region which sparked the crisis and map changes in two literal countries in the last six years alone is also seen as an important reason why NATO has to increase its capacity and capability in the Black Sea region.

...a bit of Foreign Policy, for which Turkey will be called upon to demonstrate her skills, of course for her own betterment, one hopes in so doing, for the betterment of us all. in my opinion, here is the crux of all the squawking, why the Navy and Crimea mean a lot to all these stakeholders in control of the region's wealth.

[Lordo]

if the rusians hang on to crimea then the game is over.

[repulsewarrior]

the word Federation comes to mind, another situation where together, as a region they are stronger as its stewards; it does not prevent another level of government where they can sustain a distinct identity, as a way of living.

...indeed, the word Sovereign Base comes to mind. better than Turkey, it mimics Britain in action, digging deep for a "Cypriot" analogy.

my dream is that Putin and Obama are soon shaking hands about Navies and their cooperation, it is possible in the Mediterranean for example, as it is in the Black Sea, with the same need for stability, for their strategic investments. anyway it is a better thought than a nightmare, like those two at war. i can't help but think that this affair Erdogan is having with Gulen will not play a role, is near impossible; it just shows that there is intrigue, merely in this case exposed. i am still rooting for the other half, that level heads and new thinkers will prevail, there is no reason to doubt the will in these people.

...BBF comes to mind, what is perfect in Cyprus, in Turkey, (and why not for the Palestinian/Jew), too.

[Maximus]

I think it is best to look at this from multiple perspectives.

From the US perspective, they are hypocrites.
From the EU perspective, hypocrites?
From the Turkish perspective, they are hypocrites.
From the Russian perspective, they will not listen to hypocrites.

[Lordo]

why not indeed rw but we have plonkers between us fukcing it up every time. and it seems they are positively encouraged rather then taken to task for their deeds.