BRUSSELS
Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Tuesday said that they condemned in the strongest terms the downing of a Turkish military jet by Syria last Friday.
We have not discussed Article 5 in our meeting held on the downed Turkish military jet today, Rasmussen stressed.
A statement was issued by NATO following Tuesday's meeting in Brussels.
The North Atlantic Council (NAC) has met at Turkey's request to hold consultations within the framework of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty which states that "the Parties will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened", the statement said.
The North Atlantic Council discussed the shooting down of a Turkish aircraft by Syria. We consider this act to be unacceptable and condemn it in the strongest terms. It is another example of the Syrian authorities’ disregard for international norms, peace and security, and human life, the statement stated.
Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the missing Turkish aircrew, their families and their loved ones. We continue to follow the situation closely and with great concern, and will remain seized of developments on the South-Eastern border of NATO, the statement underlined.
The security of the Alliance is indivisible. We stand together with Turkey in the spirit of strong solidarity, the statement also said.
