Stoltenberg: NATO Ready to Discuss Turkey's Concerns

The NATO chief's statement comes after Ankara has continued to reject Finland and Sweden's bid to join the transatlantic alliance, saying the two countries have supported and provided a safe haven for terrorists, including members of the YPG/ PKK and others.

“All NATO allies are willing to sit down and address these concerns, including threats to Turkey from the PKK, and these are terrorist threats, which of course, is something we are taking very seriously”, Stoltenberg told reporters at the American State Department (DASH), where he was received by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We know that no other ally NATO has not suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey”, Stoltenberg said.

“Turkey is an important ally because of its strategic location on the border with Iraq and Syria”, he added.

Stoltenberg said that in the coming days, he will meet with senior officials from Turkey, Sweden and Finland in Brussels to find a common solution. /Attish/