NATO head to meet Turkish foreign minister on Syria

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu Monday to discuss the situation in Syria, the alliance said, after Ankara intercepted a Russian fighter in its airspace.

"The meeting will focus on the events of the last weekend and the situation in Syria," a NATO official said, adding that the talks were called at Turkey's request.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meanwhile in Brussels Monday for talks with top EU officials dominated by the migrant crisis and the deepening conflict in Syria where he has backed rebels seeking the ouster of long-time Russian ally President Bashar Assad.

Turkey, a key NATO member, said earlier Monday its F-16 jets had intercepted a Russian fighter plane which violated Turkish airspace near the Syrian border on Saturday.

Turkey warned that if there is any repeat intrusion, Russia "will be responsible for any undesired incident that may occur."

• President Erdogan says Russia's bombing campaign in Syria is "unacceptable" and has warned Moscow it is making a "grave mistake."

NATO has stationed Patriot missiles on Turkey's southern border with Syria to prevent any spillover from a bitter conflict which has left 250,000 dead and sparked a mass exodus of migrants seeking safety in Europe.
 AFP
dailystar.com.lb
5/10/15
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Related:
 

• Russia says violation of Turkish airspace was ‘navigation error’

• Turkey says Russian warplane violated its airspace...

• Erdogan: Russia made a 'serious mistake' in Syria

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