NATO chief arrives in Turkey for official talks

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA

NATO chief arrived in capital Ankara on Monday for official talks in the wake of the U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the Assad regime in Syria.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential complex where both sides discussed regional issues, including the fight against terrorism, peace in Syria, Saturday's airstrikes targeting the Assad regime in Syria, according to presidential sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The meeting was closed to the media and lasted for over an hour.

Earlier, Stoltenberg met Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli after being welcomed by a military ceremony at the Defense Ministry.

The meeting focused on Syria, air and missile defense systems, and the upcoming NATO defense ministers’ meeting to be held in June, Canikli tweeted.

The U.S., U.K., and France early Saturday launched airstrikes on reported Assad regime chemical weapons facilities in Syria.

The strikes followed the Assad regime allegedly carrying out a chemical attack in Douma, Syria which killed 78 civilians and injured hundreds of others.