Secretary General stresses NATO solidarity with Turkey
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed NATO’s solidarity with Turkey and thanked Turkey for its dedication to the Alliance during a visit to Ankara on Monday (16 June 2014). “The last weeks and months have shown more than ever that we cannot take our security for granted, and that in an unpredictable world, we must keep our Alliance strong,” he said.
Mr. Fogh Rasmussen's agenda includes meetings with the President of Turkey Abdullah Gül, the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz to prepare the Wales Summit in September and to discuss the challenging situation on NATO's eastern and southern borders.
After talks with Mr. Davutoglu, he stressed that “NATO Patriot batteries continue to augment your defences in the south of the country, and that is a clear sign of NATO solidarity.” Condemning the unacceptable attack on the Turkish consulate general in Mosul, Mr Fogh Rasmussen called for the immediate release of Turkey's kidnapped diplomatic and security personnel: “We want to see all the Turkish hostages released, and we want to see them safe. Nothing can justify this criminal act. And we will continue to consult with our Ally Turkey.”
The Secretary General praised Turkey’s significant commitment to NATO, demonstrated by contributions to reinforcing collective defence in response to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and NATO-led operations in Kosovo and off the coast of Somalia. He stressed Turkey's significant role in building security and creating a better future for Afghanistan, both through the ISAF mission and the intention to play a leading role in the new mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces after 2014.
The Secretary General thanked his Turkish hosts for the positive and constructive relationship since the start of his mandate.
After talks with Mr. Davutoglu, he stressed that “NATO Patriot batteries continue to augment your defences in the south of the country, and that is a clear sign of NATO solidarity.” Condemning the unacceptable attack on the Turkish consulate general in Mosul, Mr Fogh Rasmussen called for the immediate release of Turkey's kidnapped diplomatic and security personnel: “We want to see all the Turkish hostages released, and we want to see them safe. Nothing can justify this criminal act. And we will continue to consult with our Ally Turkey.”
The Secretary General praised Turkey’s significant commitment to NATO, demonstrated by contributions to reinforcing collective defence in response to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and NATO-led operations in Kosovo and off the coast of Somalia. He stressed Turkey's significant role in building security and creating a better future for Afghanistan, both through the ISAF mission and the intention to play a leading role in the new mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces after 2014.
The Secretary General thanked his Turkish hosts for the positive and constructive relationship since the start of his mandate.