Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu on Tuesday said his country is “one of the largest contributors to NATO” and “expects solidarity”.
“Transatlantic bond is key to #NATO and to our collective security,” Mevlut Çavuşoğlu , who is in Brussels to attend NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, said in a Twitter message.
“As one of the largest contributors to NATO missions and operations, #Turkey expects solidarity from the #Alliance in all issues,” Çavuşoğlu added.
In the first day of NATO meeting, Çavuşoğlu attended sessions titled “Georgia and Ukraine”, and “Transatlantic Security”. The Turkish minister also met separately with his German, Icelandic, Spanish, Italian and Romanian counterparts.
On the second day of the meeting, Çavuşoğlu will attend sessions titled “Western Balkans” and “Afghanistan - Resolute Support Mission”.
NATO has reiterated its call on Russia to release Ukrainian sailors and the ships they seized, the bloc's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday."Today and tomorrow NATO's foreign ministers will meet and address wide range of issues of importance for our shared security. We will address Russia's destabilizing behavior," Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a two-day NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.He added, "We recently saw how Russia used military force against Ukrainian vessels and arrested the ships and the sailors. We recall on Russia to immediately release the ships and the sailors."On Nov. 25, Russia seized two Ukrainian navy ships and a navy tugboat along with 23 crew members off Crimea, accusing Kiev of entering its waters and provoking a conflict.Stoltenberg said despite Ukraine not being a member of the NATO, the alliance strongly supports the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity."NATO allies will also continue to help to modernize and strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces," he added.The chief also said NATO is concerned about new Russian missile system "which puts the INF treaty [Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty] in jeopardy"."It is urgent that Russia ensures full compliance in a transparent and verified way because the INF treaty is so important for our security," he added. The treaty was signed in 1987 between the U.S. and the then Soviet Union. On Oct. 21, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the treaty.Kremlin says it regrets that US-Russia dialogue is not working outKiev says Russia has 'partially unlocked' Ukrainian Azov Sea ports
NATO iterates call on Russia to free Ukrainian sailors
NATO foreign ministers will discuss security challenges this week, the head of the organization said on Monday."NATO Foreign Ministers are meeting this week to address a wide range of security challenges, including Russia’s destabilising behaviour, violent extremism in the Middle East and North Africa and continuing instability in Afghanistan," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.Stoltenberg's remarks came ahead of a two-day meeting due to start on Tuesday in Brussels.He said the allies will meet on Tuesday with NATO's partners, Georgia and Ukraine, adding: "They both face serious security challenges from Russia, and we will continue to give both countries practical and political support."Stoltenberg said the ministers will also exchange views on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty that was signed in 1987 between the U.S. and the then Soviet Union."This Treaty eliminated an entire category of weapons, but it has been put in jeopardy by Russia," he added.On Oct. 21, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the treaty.According to the statement, Stoltenberg said Russia has developed, produced and deployed a new missile, which “could reach European cities with little or no warning."The secretary added Washington is in full compliance with the INF Treaty, saying: "There are no new US missiles in Europe, but there are new Russian missiles."Czech security service says Russia behind cyber attacks on ministryMiddle East and North AfricaStoltenberg said the ministers will also discuss the challenges coming from the Middle East and North Africa."We will discuss Iraq, where we are helping train local forces, and our experts are helping set up defense education facilities," he said.He added the ministers on Wednesday will hold a meeting on the Western Balkans, joined by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini."They will discuss Skopje’s progress towards NATO membership and the next steps in developing the Alliance’s relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina," according to the statement.The NATO chief also said the ministers will endorse the organization’s readiness to accept Bosnia’s first annual national program. "This is an important tool, which can help the country implement political, economic and defense reforms," he added.He said a meeting of all nations contributing to the Resolute Support training mission in Afghanistan will conclude Wednesday's session."We must continue to ensure that the country never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists," Stoltenberg said.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will attend the meeting. He is expected to have bilateral meetings with his counterparts.Turkish FM to attend NATO meeting in Brussels
Security challenges to dominate NATO meeting