Fidan urges diplomacy against the war spreading to the Black Sea

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the spread of the Russia-Ukraine war to the Black Sea and attacks on civilian vessels as unacceptable during a joint news conference with Ceyhun Bayramov in Baku on Tuesday, September 15. Fidan said common ground could be found to end the conflict if political will and goodwill were demonstrated.

Fidan calls for diplomacy to prevent the war from spreading to the Black Sea

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the spread of the Russia-Ukraine war to the Black Sea posed a threat to the lives of Turkish citizens and the operations of Turkish companies. Speaking at a joint news conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov in Baku on Tuesday, September 15, Fidan said attacks targeting civilian vessels were also unacceptable.

Fidan said civilian casualties and destruction were increasing as the fighting continued, adding that Türkiye had worked since the beginning of the war to keep the Black Sea outside the conflict. He said these efforts had achieved partial results through the careful implementation of the Montreux Convention and the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Safety of civilian vessels in the Black Sea

Fidan said attacks targeting civilian vessels in the Black Sea in recent months had created serious risks to the safety of lives and property, maritime transport and the environment. He said Turkish and Azerbaijani citizens serving as seafarers had been killed in the attacks, stressing that the war’s spread to the Black Sea was unacceptable.

Fidan said the parties had received the necessary warnings on the issue, adding that common ground for an agreement could be established if political will was shown and the parties acted in good faith. He announced that Türkiye was intensifying its initiatives to end the conflict and would continue its efforts for peace.

Search for a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine war

Fidan said statements warning that the war could spread beyond the Black Sea to other European countries had occasionally come to the fore. He said Türkiye maintained its position that the war must not begin, must not expand and must end immediately.

Fidan said contacts with the parties had contributed to implementing agreements such as the Grain Deal and prisoner exchanges. He added that the parties had come very close to signing a peace agreement during the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, but the process could not be completed.

Fidan said the war was harming the global economy as well as the region, adding that the parties should reach an understanding that attacks on energy infrastructure were unacceptable and should declare a moratorium. He said the United Nations, the United States, Türkiye and several other countries were working toward this goal.

Fidan said talks with the parties were continuing, with the Black Sea as a priority, adding that Türkiye was presenting proposals and seeking to reconcile the parties’ responses on the basis of a common understanding. He said the war had turned from a war of attrition into a war of destruction over the past year, with civilian casualties rising and the conflict’s geographical scope, methods of warfare and targets becoming more severe.

Fidan warned that energy prices, food security and the environment would face greater risks if the war was not halted. He said the parties needed to move toward an agreement to prevent further escalation and new tragedies.

Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations and the South Caucasus

Fidan said Türkiye and Azerbaijan had resolved major problems together on the basis of centuries-old friendship, adding that relations continued under the understanding of “one nation, two states.” He thanked the presidents of both countries for their leadership.

Fidan said his visit to Baku coincided with the 108th anniversary of the liberation of Baku by the Caucasian Islamic Army under the command of Nuri Pasha, and commemorated with respect those who lost their lives for independence. He said he had held various meetings during his visit, particularly with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and listened to assessments on the bilateral and regional agenda.

Fidan said cooperation in energy, transport and connectivity, along with trade and economic relations, was of strategic importance. He said joint exercises, the sharing of experience and training, and cooperation between defense industry institutions had elevated Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations to the level of an alliance.

Recalling that Türkiye had supported Azerbaijan’s just cause during the years when Karabakh was under occupation, Fidan said the priority today was to establish lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus. He said he was pleased with the latest developments toward a final peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and with Baku’s constructive stance.

Fidan said he believed that a new era of cooperation would begin in the region once the process was completed. He added that they wanted the South Caucasus to be known not for conflicts but for peace, transport, energy, trade and economic development.

Fidan said the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States would be held in Ankara on October 29, while the organization’s 13th Summit would take place on October 30. He described the summit as a historic step that would strengthen the Turkic world’s shared vision for the future.

Call for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz

Fidan also addressed developments around the Strait of Hormuz, saying that Iran’s security, stability and prosperity directly affected the region, including Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Calling for the current conflict to be resolved through diplomatic means as soon as possible, Fidan said reciprocal attacks were seriously weakening peace efforts.

Fidan said safe, uninterrupted and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured, calling for a return to the situation before the war as soon as possible. He said contacts with the relevant parties were continuing to resolve the crisis and establish peace and security.

Middle Corridor and railway links

Fidan said the connection between Türkiye and Azerbaijan through Nakhchivan was important for mutual access among the countries of the Turkic world, drawing attention to the value of the Middle Corridor, in which Azerbaijan and Türkiye play important roles, for global trade.

Fidan said there was a vision that would enable the Turkic world to reach Anatolia and Europe, and Türkiye to reach the Turkic world via the Caspian Sea. He added that the Zangezur Corridor and the Kars-Iğdır-Aralık-Dilucu railway line were among the complementary elements of this connection.

Fidan said Türkiye and Azerbaijan had been holding talks on the issue for two years, adding that construction work on the Kars-Dilucu railway was continuing and that the line was targeted for completion by the end of 2029. He said uninterrupted train travel from Azerbaijan to Türkiye would become possible once the line was completed, adding that it would provide a significant logistical opportunity.