BRUSSELS
The NATO Council condemned the Syrian attack on Turkey's south-eastern town of Akcakale in which 5 Turkish citizens were killed and 9 others wounded when artillery shells landed on the town.
In a statement released following an extraordinary meeting of the NATO Council at the level of ambassadors, NATO said that "as stated on 26 June 20l2, the Alliance continues to closely follow the situation in Syria. In view of the Syrian regime’s recent aggressive acts at NATO’s southeastern border, which are a flagrant breach of international law and a clear and present danger to the security of one of its Allies, the North Atlantic Council met today, within the framework of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, and discussed the continuous shelling of locations in Turkey adjacent to the Turkish-Syrian border by the Syrian regime forces."
"The most recent shelling on 3 October 20l2, which caused the death of five Turkish citizens and injured many, constitutes a cause of greatest concern for, and is strongly condemned by, all Allies," the NATO statement said.
"In the spirit of indivisibility of security and solidarity deriving from the Washington Treaty, the Alliance continues to stand by Turkey and demands the immediate cessation of such aggressive acts against an Ally, and urges the Syrian regime to put an end to flagrant violations of international law," the NATO statement also said.
Writing by Emre Solak
