THE LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY OF THE MONTREUX TREATY, 1936 FOR THE TURKISH STRAITS

“The best is the Enemy of the Good” (Voltaire)The Montreux Treaty of 1936, which is still in force regulates the passing vessels/aircrafts through the Turkish Straits and the Sea of Marmara. But, the Treaty lacks the regulatory coverage for unpolluted waters of the Turkish Straits. Had there been a reference thereto in the Montreux, the “Independante” the Romanian registered tanker, which exploded and sank off Kadıköy shores in 1979 would not have remained abandoned. The collision of ships to the historical waterside mansions on the two banks of the Istanbul Straits are no doubt environmental disasters. The renewal of the Treaty is discussed, at times, by the public opinion. As a matter of fact, the article 29 of the Treaty makes it possible to alter it under certain conditions.Thus we can deduce that in favor of all parties to the Treaty, it may be modified on the common denominator of the sensibility of clean sea waters by the lead of TURMEPA by a unanimous voting. This may of course lead to boosting of fish population, too.This paper only aims more at evoking the consciousness of the lack of environmental sensitivity of the Montreux Treaty, 1936, for the Turkish Straits.