NATO chief warns Turkey against destabilising Syria
(9 Oct 2019) The Secretary-General of NATO has urged Turkey not to "further destabilise the region" through its military action in northern Syria. Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference in Rome on Wednesday that Turkey, a NATO ally, "has legitimate security concerns,'' having suffered "horrendous terrorist attacks'' and hosting thousands of refugees. He said NATO has been informed about Turkey's ongoing operation in northern Syria. Stoltenberg added: ''It is important to avoid actions that may further Rome - 9 October 2019 1. Close up of Giuseppe Conte, Italian prime minister, and Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, chatting inside Chigi Palace (PM's office) courtyard 2. Various of Conte and Stoltenberg inspecting guard of honour 3. Conte and Stoltenberg shaking hands 4. Pan left of Conte and Stoltenberg arriving for news conference 5. Journalist 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General: "We also discussed the situation in Syria. Our ally Turkey is at the forefront of the crisis and has legitimate security concerns. It has suffered horrendous terrorist attacks and it hosts millions of Syrian refugees. NATO has been informed by Turkish authorities about the ongoing operation in northern Syria. It is important to avoid actions that may further destabilise the region, escalate tensions and cause more human suffering." 7. Wide of news conference 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General: "I count on Turkey to act with restraint and ensure that any action it may take in northern Syria is proportionate and measured. We must not jeopardise the gains we have made together against our common enemy ISIS. Because ISIS continues to pose a grave threat to the Middle East and North Africa and to all our nations. I will discuss this issue with President Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday." 9. Journalist 10. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Giuseppe Conte, Italian Prime Minister: "I've just been informed by the NATO Secretary General that Turkey has taken a unilateral initiative, on which I can only express concern. The concern is about the need to avoid taking initiatives that could lead to a further destabilisation of the region – (the need to avoid) initiatives that could cause further suffering to the local population and community." 7. Conte and Stoltenberg shaking hands 8. Italian and European flags outside Chigi Palace 9. Wide of Chigi Palace the region, escalate tensions and cause more human suffering.'' He said Turkey should act with "restraint'' and any action should be "proportionate". Stoltenberg will discuss the military action with Turkey's leader on Friday in Istanbul. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
