§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have discussed with the Turkish Government the text of the Montreux Convention, especially those sections and appendices of the convention which show that aircraft carriers may not legitimately be sent through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)The application of the provisions of the Montreux Convention have from time to time been discussed with the Turkish Government. We have taken the view that the convention applies to aircraft carriers and that passage of such ships through the straits is not compatible with the convention. This view is not shared by all of the parties, in particular the Turkish Government.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have discussed with the Soviet Union that country's apparent intention to send an aircraft carrier from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean in contravention of the Montreux Convention, and have pointed out to them the implications for future negotiations on arms control should the Soviet authorities insist on doing this.
§ Baroness YoungThe Soviet authorities are aware of our view that passage of aircraft carriers from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean is not compatible with the terms of the Montreux Convention.