Estonia shows solidarity with Turkey
Following the snap meeting of NATO member states which took place on Tuesday on the invitation of Turkey, after ISIL-initiated terrorist attacks rattled the country, Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand said that Estonia and the allies showed solidarity towards Turkey.
“Terrorism has no justification, we condemn unanimously all the acts of terrorism and stand with Turkey in the battle against terrorism,” Kaljurand said.
Kaljurand said that there is an increased threat of terrorist attack throughout Turkey and the situation on the Turkey-Syria border is very fragile. According to the foreign minister, the seriousness of the situation is attested by the explosion on July 20 in the town of Suruç which killed more than 30 people, as well as the attacks against Turkish authorities within the past days.
“We understand the challenges faced by Turkey and will continue with the allies to follow the further developments in the region very closely,“ she said.
The North Atlantic Council convened on July 28, following a request by Turkey to hold consultations under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty. Article 4 means that any ally can request consultations whenever their national security is threatened, to inform other member states about the measures they are taking and the operations they are conducting against the threat.
Turkey did not request any military assistance.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is a militant group and self-proclaimed caliphate and Islamic state which is led by Sunni Arabs from Iraq and Syria. It has committed terrorist acts and atrocities, unprecedented in modern times.
Estonia has joined the anti-ISIL coalition with 60 other countries.
Editor: S. Tambur