Ilgın Karlıdağ
February 23, 2016•Update: February 25, 2016
BRUSSELS
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called for calm and de-escalation on the Turkish-Syrian border following a terrorist attack in Ankara that killed 29 people last week.
"Nothing can justify the kind of terrorist attack we saw in Ankara a few days ago," Stoltenberg said at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday.
"The obvious challenges we see in Syria and also [the] spilling over into Turkey underlines the importance of calm [and] de-escalation and that Turkish response is proportionate," Stoltenberg said. "Turkey is the ally most affected by turmoil [and] violence."
Last week’s terrorist attack was blamed on the YPG and the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.
Earlier this month, NATO defense ministers decided to intensify intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities at the Turkish-Syrian border.
Stoltenberg said NATO presence in Turkey was meant to help the ally defend itself against any aggression and that NATO was not present in Syria.
"We have assurance measures in Turkey, we have military presence, AWACs [surveillance aircraft] increase and naval presence to make sure we are able to defend all allies against any aggression, including Turkey," Stoltenberg said.
