Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Istanbul, 3 November 2022.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday (03 November 2022) met the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, in Istanbul. They addressed a range of issues, including Türkiye’s contributions to NATO security, the situation in the Aegean, the common fight against terrorism, Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO, and Allied support for Ukraine.

The Secretary General thanked Türkiye for its important contributions to our shared security and the major role it plays in the fight against terrorism, including in NATO’s advising mission in Iraq.

They addressed Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Mr Stoltenberg commended Türkiye, and President Erdogan personally, for negotiating safe passage for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. He welcomed the continuation of the agreement, calling it a “life-line, on which hundreds of millions of people around the world depend.”

The Secretary General recalled that at the Madrid Summit in June, all Allies made an historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO, and Türkiye, Finland and Sweden also agreed a Trilateral Memorandum. He welcomed the major, concrete steps taken by both countries to put the memorandum into practice. He said, “Finland and Sweden have delivered on their agreement with Türkiye. They have become strong partners in our joint fight against terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations. And they are clearly committed to a long-term engagement with Türkiye to address your security concerns.” He stated that “it is time to welcome Finland and Sweden as full members of NATO,” stressing that finalising their accession process is even more important in these dangerous times, “to prevent any misunderstanding or miscalculation in Moscow” and to send a clear sign that NATO’s door remains open.

During his visit to Türkiye, Mr. Stoltenberg will meet the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoǧan, and the Minister of Defence, Hulusi Akar. He will also travel to Çanakkale to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site, a memorial site commemorating battles fought in the First World War.

???? |NATO Secretary General:

Minister Çavuşoğlu, dear Mevlüt,
Thank you so much for your warm welcome.
It is always a pleasure to be back in Istanbul, and to meet with you.

Türkiye is a highly valued NATO Ally, making important contributions to our shared security.
You play a major role in the fight against terrorism.
Including in our mission in Iraq.
You are also contributing to our maritime and air policing deployments.
And contributing to our collective defence in many other ways.

NATO also contributes to the security of Türkiye.
By augmenting your air defences.
And through our air and naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Our unity and solidarity are essential as we face the greatest security crisis in a generation.

Today, we discussed a number of issues, including the situation in the Aegean, our fight against terrorism, Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO, and our support for Ukraine.

President Putin is failing in Ukraine.
But he is responding with more brutality.

In recent weeks, we have seen dozens of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine.
Including on critical infrastructure.
Cruelly and deliberately depriving Ukrainian civilians of heating, water and electricity at the outset of winter.

We also see Iran offering drones and considering ballistic missile deliveries to Russia.
This is unacceptable.
No country should provide support to Moscow in this illegal war.

I want to thank Türkiye for all its support to Ukraine.
The cutting-edge drones and ships built here in Türkiye are helping to uphold Ukraine’s right to self-defence.

I also commend Türkiye, and President Erdogan personally, for negotiating safe passage for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, easing the global food crisis.

I welcome the continuation of the UN grain agreement.
And Türkiye’s efforts to maintain this life-line, on which hundreds of millions of people around the world depend.


Today, we also discussed the ratification of Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership.

Transcript continued: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_208413.htm

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