[center][img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Ottoman_flag.svg/320px-Ottoman_flag.svg.png[/img]
Less than three years since the last bloody conflict in the Balkans, and already another war looms. The Turkish-Bulgarian war of 1911 was costly for the Ottoman Empire, and it is the desire of the Porte to avoid any such bloodshed on Ottoman soil. However, unfortunately, such desire is unlikely to be fulfilled, due to the closeness of the war and the history of Ottoman influence in the region. Also, diplomatic ties link the Ottoman Empire with both sides of the conflict. Therefore, the Ottoman Empire will at this time not be taking a stance on the war in the Balkans. Until such time as Ottoman neutrality is ended, the following policies will be put into effect:

1) The Ottoman Empire will not tolerate any fighting on Ottoman soil, and all non Ottoman troops are forbidden from entering Ottoman territory, with the exception of relevant troops within suzerains of the Ottoman Empire, such as British troops within Egypt.

2) A cease-fire zone is in place within the north-eastern corner of the Aegean Sea, the southern and south-western edge of the Black Sea, and within the Turkish Straits and the Sea of Marmara. Military and civilian vessels are still allowed to travel through the Turkish Straits as per peacetime laws, but there is to be no fighting between hostile vessels within the cease-fire zone.

3) Military vessels of hostile nations are forbidden from remaining inside of an Ottoman port for longer than 24 hours, and crew members or passengers on said vessels must remain within the borders of said port.

4) Unless sufficient reason is given, any breach of the above policies will be considered an act of war, and will be dealt with as such.

~Sultan Mehmet V, of the Ottoman Empire.
[/center]