Filenews 21 December 2022
As part of a huge wave of Western sanctions on Russia, Moscow has changed land transport through Turkey to circumvent restrictions, according to research on the data.
The number of Russian trucks carrying goods to Russia had risen to 10,956 this year on November 30, as opposed to about 2-3,000 on average in previous years. In the same period, 18, 804 Turkish trucks made trips to Russia, carrying various exported goods. Similarly, the number of Turkish trucks transporting imported goods to Turkey from Russia amounted to 13,648, while the number of Russian trucks on this route was 7,445 in the same period.
The increase in the number of Russian and Turkish trucks transporting goods to and from Russia came after a protocol was signed between Turkish and Russian delegations on May 16, 2022, less than two months after Russia invaded Ukrainian territory.
The meeting, held within the framework of the Joint Committee on Land Transport, saw an abrupt change in Russia's position on the maximum transit quotas granted to Turkish truckers. Russian representatives agreed to increase the annual truck quota for the Turkish side from 8,000 to 20,000 for transport destined to reach Russia and from 6,000 to 35,000 for transit to third countries via Russia.
The abrupt change in Russia's position on truck licences provided to Turkey is a harbinger of more, as Turkey has chosen not to participate in Western sanctions, remaining the only NATO ally not to impose punitive measures against Russia. Turkey has become a hub for Russian oligarchs, who have tried to keep their wealth and assets intact and parked in Turkey.
Although Turkish commercial trucks face an annual cap on the number of travel certificates they receive for travel to Russia, there is no corresponding cap from the Turkish side for Russian trucks. This means that Russia can send as many lorries as it wants to Turkey and via Turkey without any limits.
The opposition in Turkey is concerned that the timetable for approving the land transport deal may not be good, given that Turkey has already faced a barrage of criticism in the West for not joining sanctions on Russia and has also been accused of undermining them. The issue was raised during the discussions on the agreement in parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs on 13 December. MP Utku Cakirozer expressed concern that Turkey might be seen as indirectly abolishing sanctions and punished for it: "Even if we are not a party to sanctions, we say at every opportunity that we should avoid being perceived as a country that violates or exploits sanctions," he said. However, government representatives dismissed the MP's concerns.
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Faruk Kaimakci, Turkey has already rejected a number of proposals from Russia that could amount to violations of Western sanctions, but complained about pressure from the EU on individuals and companies investing in Turkey. He declined to provide exact figures on the number of individuals and companies the EU has amassed as lifting sanctions on Turkey, but said talks between the Turkish side and the EU are ongoing.
Turkey's position on sanctions was highlighted by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a letter to the European Parliament, according to a German media report on December 11th. The deepening of economic ties between Turkey and Russia is "a cause for great concern". He warned that Turkey should not offer Russia solutions to sanctions.
Five days later, Erdogan attacked Borrell, describing his comments as "very ugly": "Borrell cannot define and formalize our relations with Russia. He has neither the qualifications nor the ability to make such decisions. Who is going to assess our ties with Russia in terms of sanctions?" the Turkish president said.
However, it is not only the EU that highlights the issue of Turkey's attitude towards Russia with regard to sanctions. On December 15, Ambassador James O'Brien, head of the U.S. State Department's Office of Sanctions Coordination, said the U.S. would take action against Turkey's non-compliance with sanctions on Russia. "We are extremely clear with both the Turkish government and the Turkish private sector that we expect compliance with the sanctions," he said, adding that "we are very clear that where our interests require us to enforce our sanctions, we will do so."
The Erdoğan government has publicly and repeatedly announced that it will not participate in Western sanctions on Russia, a policy that has helped many Russians use Turkey as a way out of punitive measures.
Source: Capital.gr
