ANKARA, August 11 (HS/RIA Novosti) - Turkey does not intend to allow the passage of warships through its straits, despite media reports about pressure from NATO countries seeking to expand access for military vessels to the Black Sea, a source in the Turkish government told RIA Novosti.

Earlier in August, the Turkiye newspaper reported that Ankara is under pressure from a number of NATO countries to achieve freer passage of warships through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles amid ongoing tensions in the Black Sea. The issue of access for military vessels has acquired additional urgency due to the situation around the Ukrainian conflict and the risks to navigation, the newspaper reported.

Warships are not allowed in the Turkish straits. Ankara carefully monitors compliance with the Montreux Convention and does not allow circumvention of it. Turkey continues to strictly adhere to international obligations governing the passage of military vessels through the straits, the source said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar