THE BOSPHORUS: PASSAGE OF SOVIET SUBMARINES

HL Deb 21 June 1978 vol 393 cc1370-1WA

Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Soviet submarines, and which, have passed through the Bosphorus in recent years: whether their passage has been in strict conformity with the provisions of the Montreux Convention; and if not, in what respects.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Since 1975 four Soviet submarines have transitted the Bosphorus. In each of the years 1975, 1977 and 1978 a T class submarine transitted from the Black Sea. They were declared for refitting in the Baltic and Northern Fleet area and hence can be held to conformed to the provisions of the Convention. In 1976 a ZIV submarine transitted the Bosphorus. It was similarly declared.