NATO member states should not alienate Turkey, as this country is of a great importance for the Alliance, said the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Danish TV2 television, reports TASS.

At the same time, the NATO chief urged Turkey to “show mutual respect, to be calm and have a measured approach to contribute to de-escalate the tensions.

Stoltenberg stressed, that for decades Turkey has been an important member of the Alliance and was as such even during the years of having a "military dictatorship." According to him, NATO member states have common interests, observe the rule of law and human rights, and he draws attention of the Turkish authorities to all these each time he visits Turkey.