Erdoğan urges NATO to support Turkey in 'critical time'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 9 called on NATO members to show their alliance with Turkey "at this critical time."

"NATO is in a critical period in which it should clearly show the alliance's solidarity [with Turkey]," Erdoğan told reporters during a press conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Our allies should collaborate with Turkey without discrimination and with no political preconditions, he added.

Turkey has fought Syrian-based threats and the terrorist group Daesh/ISIS for nearly a decade now and is the only NATO member state to see soldiers martyred, said Erdoğan.

No European country has the luxury of being unconcerned about the conflicts and human drama in Syria, he said.

For his part, Stoltenberg said: "no other NATO ally suffered more from terror attacks than Turkey." He also praised Turkey's efforts for the region's security.

He also called Turkey an "important" ally which has "contributed to our shared security in many ways."

The military alliance has invested heavily in missile systems and military bases in Turkey in years past, and it keeps on contributing to air and naval missions in Turkey, he said.

"Allies are prepared to continue to support Turkey and explore what more to do," he said, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to partnership.

Stoltenberg also expressed his concerns over the security situation in Syria and the resulting migrant crisis.

"The Assad regime and Russia caused untold civilian suffering," he said, adding that he hopes the cease-fire in Idlib, northwestern Syria reached last week by Turkey and Syria will grow into a standing peace.

The secretary-general called migration "a common challenge" and hailed the...