NATO SG calls Turkish provocations “disagreements between countries”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg straddling the fence on issues of Greek – Turkish relations, avoiding to condemn Turkish provocations, and calling on both sides “to resolve their differences in the Aegean in a spirit of trust and allied solidarity.”

In an exclusive interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Mr. Stoltenberg downplayed Turkey’s provocations, calling them “disagreements between countries” and saying, among other things, that in the past “there have been accidents between Greek and Turkish forces, we should do everything we can to help reduce the risk of such accidents in the future. It is in everyone’s interest to avoid a recurrence of such situations. ”

At the same time, he stressed that in the current difficult circumstances, allies, as he called Greece and Turkey should not make provocative statements or actions.

Mr. Stoltenberg, did stress the very positive role of Greece in the current crisis in Ukraine, characterizing it as a “pillar of stability” and a “reliable ally” in the southeastern wing of NATO.

At the same time, he notes that it is necessary to find a solution for the immediate accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, by finding appropriate answers to, what he called, Turkey’s “serious concerns” concerning terrorism.