WORLD
Turkey calls for NATO meeting to discuss security threats
Baku, July 27, AZERTAC
Turkey on Sunday called for a meeting of its NATO allies to discuss threats to its security.
NATO announced that its decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, will convene Tuesday after Ankara invoked the alliance's Article 4, which allows member states to request a meeting if they feel their territorial integrity or security is under threat.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey would inform allies about the airstrikes which followed an IS suicide bombing near Turkey's border with Syria that left 32 people dead, and an IS attack on Turkish forces, which killed a soldier.
Turkey requested the meeting, which includes ambassadors of all 28 member countries, "in view of the seriousness of the situation after the heinous terrorist attacks in recent days," NATO said.
NATO itself is not involved in operations against the Islamic State group, although many of its members are. As an alliance, however, NATO is committed to helping defend Turkey.
The requested meeting is to be held on July 28 in Istanbul and will be presided by NATO Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg.