Erdogan Stresses Turkey's Essential Role in NATO
12:48 21.11.2016
Turkey has been an integral member of NATO since the Cold War, providing political and military support for the alliance, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
ANKARA (Sputnik) – On November 4, US State Department assured that Ankara's membership of NATO is not at risk despite concerns of the alliance's members over the arrests of opposition politicians and restrictions on press freedom after a military coup attempt in Turkey on July 15.
"NATO is a platform for security, which unites the countries that are committed to the ideals of democratic values development. Turkey, the second in size of an army in NATO's structure, became an integral part of the alliance during the Cold War. Turkey continues to provide political and military support for NATO's efforts in defense of peace in the world," Erdogan said during the 62nd Parliamentary NATO sessions in Istanbul, broadcast by the NTV Channel.
The Turkish president emphasized Ankara's support for the political settlement of the Syrian crisis.
© Sputnik
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