Russia obliged to nofity Turkey about S-300 missilies shipment

Russia, which has pledged to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Damascus as a deterrent against foreign military intervention, is obliged to notify Turkey 15 days ahead for any shipment of warheads and ammunition via Turkish straits, as required by the Montreux Straits Convention signed in 1936. According to the convention, Turkey has total control over the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and regulates all naval transit. Turkish diplomatic sources said to Today's Zaman that Russia has so far not notified Turkish authorities, although Moscow has to use the Turkish straits to transport the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. "If there is any possibility of a shipment, the Russian Foreign Ministry is obliged to let us know. Otherwise, Turkey has a right to intervene and seize the ammunition onboard that might directly pose a threat to the country's security," said a Turkish official, who declined to be named, adding that Russia occasionally requests permission for the passage of war vessels through the straits. The official especially noted that the requests include information about the ammunition being shipped, the reason for the shipment and the final destination of the ships. Turkey is also entitled to board any ship for investigation, which could cause a diplomatic crisis, the official noted. Russia has expressed its commitment to sell the S-300 missiles under a contract struck in 2010 with President Bashar al-Assad, although President Vladimir Putin said on June 4 that Russia hasn't yet fulfilled the contract to send the sophisticated S-300 air defense missile systems to Syria. Western powers, who are trying, along with Russia, to organize an international conference to end the 26-month-old conflict, say such a delivery would be hugely counter-productive.