NATO chief urges US, Turkey to find solutions to row

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday urged the US and Turkey to “sit down and find solutions” to a crisis in relations between the two key members of the military alliance.
The row erupted when a Turkish employee of the US consulate in Istanbul was arrested on suspicion of links to a US-based preacher Ankara blames for last year’s failed coup.
Washington halted issuing non-immigrant visas in Turkey in response and on Thursday President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US was in danger of “sacrificing” relations.
“I only urge the United States and Turkey to sit down and find solutions because it is important for the alliance that we are able to work closely together, especially in that region, because Turkey is a key for our fight against terrorism,” Stoltenberg told AFP in an interview.
Turkey is a key player in the fight against Daesh and the US relies heavily on the airbase at Incirlik in the country’s south to launch airstrikes against the militants in neighboring Iraq and Syria.
“We are always ready to help, but I know there are direct contacts so I am certain Turkey and the US are talking to each other directly and addressing some of this disputes,” Stoltenberg said.

Source: Arab News