Turkey Signs Hague Declaration, Disavows UNCLOS

Turkey has signed the Joint Declaration of the Hague Group, drafted in Bogota, while maintaining reservations regarding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite the signing, the Turkish Foreign Ministry clarified that the country is not bound by the Declaration's references to UNCLOS.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, participation in the Declaration does not imply a change in Turkey's legal position regarding UNCLOS. The Declaration, signed by 30 countries, aims to take measures against Israel due to the attacks in Gaza. Turkey was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Zeki Levent Gümrükçü.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the Turkish reservation is related to the clause concerning UNCLOS, to which Turkey is not a party due to pending issues in the Aegean Sea. The Declaration includes explicit references to UNCLOS, but Turkey assures that its participation does not change its legal stance.

The Declaration concludes with a joint commitment from 13 countries, including Turkey, to implement measures against Israel aimed at preventing violations in the Palestinian issue, with a deadline set for the UN General Assembly on September 20.