NATO calls on Turkey to join EU sanctions against Russia as Putin visits Ankara



December 1 2014

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Turkey to join the economic sanctions campaign against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.

His comments come on the day Russia and Turkey were set to hold talks to increase trade volume from the current $33 billion to $100 billion by 2020

“Of course I’d like to see as many countries as possible be part of this, to support sanctions. It’s important that it has an effect,” Stoltenberg replied to questions at a press conference on Dec. 1 regarding Turkey’s efforts to boost trade with Russia at a moment when the Western bloc is united to impose sanctions on Russia.

Sanctions are not decided by NATO, but by the European Union and the U.S., Stoltenberg stressed, "because I believe there has to be consequences when a country is responsible for these kinds of aggressive actions that we have seen in Ukraine [committed] by Russia."

Russia annexing Crimea from Ukraine has prompted international uproar and led to the imposition of consecutive sanctions against Moscow by the EU. Turkey announced that it would not join the sanctions as a matter of principle, and intensified talks with Russia on how it could fill the gap created by the EU’s sanctions.

Stoltenberg’s statement came as the Turkish and Russian presidents were scheduled to have in-detail talks to multiply and diversify bilateral trade, as well as to seek new fields of cooperation.

NATO ready to assist Iraq

Another important message given by the secretary-general on the eve of NATO’s foreign ministerial meetings Dec. 2 and 3 is on the alliance’s readiness to support Iraq to boost its defense capacity in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The alliance’s headquarters will host a meeting of coalition members on the sidelines of a NATO ministerial meeting on Dec. 3, at which Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will also participate.

In reply to a question if the alliance will play a further role in the coalition beyond hosting the upcoming meeting, Stoltenberg said there has been no such request yet.

“This is a coalition led by the U.S., not a NATO coalition. There has been no request for a NATO role in the fight against ISIL in Syria,” he said.

“What we have said is that we are ready to provide help and assistance to the government of Iraq and help them enhance their defense capacity,” Stoltenberg said, while adding that there has been no such request yet.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-calls-on-turkey-to-join-eu-sanctions-against-russia-as-putin-visits-ankara.aspx?pageID=238&nID=75048&NewsCatID=510