ISTANBUL

Turkey is an important country for NATO, the head of Ankara’s delegation to the alliance said on Monday.

"Holding meetings in Istanbul, where more than 350 deputies from 55 delegations attended, shows how Turkey is an important country for NATO," Osman Askin Bak told Anadolu Agency.

Turkey is hosting the 62nd NATO Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session in Turkey's largest city.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Michael Turner said Turkey had experienced many difficulties.

"Turkey makes its own contribution when it struggles with these challenges," Turner said during a speech on Monday.

Turner said Turkey was working for expanding stability in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Balkans while hosting millions of refugees.

He said NATO was also aware of the “trauma” the July 15 coup attempt had created in Turkey, which left 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Reporting by Zuhal Demirci; Writing by Diyar Güldoğan;