Top security body discusses regional tensions and counter-terrorism efforts

 

Tensions in neighboring countries and terrorist activities of PKK were discussed yesterday at meeting of National Security Council (MGK), which gathers Turkey’s top civilian and military leaders and is led by President Abdullah Gul. The council said in a statement released after a monthly meeting in Ankara that it had reaffirmed that PKK’s terrorism remains to be a threat against national unity and security, adding that the council also assessed current and future counter-terrorism measures. In the statement the council expressed its concerns over the ongoing crisis in Syria. It said that efforts by Turkey and the international community should continue to find a peaceful settlement to the problem. The council also emphasized humanitarian dimension of the Syria crisis. "The council discussed Turkey's efforts to meet needs of nearly 150,000 Syrians who had taken shelter in camps in Turkey," it said. Relations between Turkey and Egypt were also discussed during the meeting. It was stated that Egypt's development in stability and democracy was of great importance for the region. Latest developments in neighboring Iraq were also on the agenda. The council expressed concern over increasing tensions between the opposite forces in Iraq.