Turkey is a valuable ally in NATO, announces the Alliance’s spokeswoman Oana Lungescu in regard to the coup attempt and speculations in the media about the position of the Alliance on Turkey’s membership.
The statement says that Turkey's membership in NATO not in question. " Turkey's NATO membership is not in question. Our Alliance is committed to collective defense and founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law. NATO counts on the continued contributions of Turkey and Turkey can count on the solidarity and support of NATO."
According to Lungescu, NATO’s Secretary -General spoke to the Turkish Foreign Minister and later President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the night of the coup attempt and strongly condemned the practices of the coup. He expressed a full support to Turkey 's democratic institutions and the elected government.
