Turkey calls for rare NATO talks – CNN.com

Story highlights Turkey requested meeting under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty It was fifth time in NATO history that members held special talks under Article 4 NATO's council: "We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Turkey"

"We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Turkey, and express our condolences to the Turkish government and the families of the victims in Suruc and other attacks against police and military officers," the council said in a statement after Tuesday's meeting, referring to an attack last week in a border town across from Kobani, Syria.

The council, which is NATO's governing body, said terrorism in any form could never be tolerated.

"Terrorism poses a direct threat to the security of NATO countries and to international stability and prosperity," the statement said. "It is a global threat that knows no border, nationality, or religion -- a challenge that the international community must fight and tackle together."

Turkey requested the meeting under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allows countries to ask for consultations when they believe their territorial integrity, political independence or security are threatened.

It was the fifth time in NATO history that members had met under Article 4, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told CNN before the meeting began. The North Atlantic Council is made up of the NATO ambassadors of the 28 member countries.

"In the wake of increased security threats following the attacks against our security and law enforcement forces in the provinces of Diyarbakr, Sanlurfa and Kilis, in particular the terrorist attack that took the lives of 32 innocent Turkish citizens in Suruc on 20 July, 2015, all necessary measures are being taken and in this context, operations are also being carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Upon these recent attacks and threats directed against our national security, the North Atlantic Council has been called to a meeting by Turkey this week under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty with a view to informing our Allies about the measures we are taking and the operations we are conducting against terrorism, as well as to holding consultations with them."

The talks came as Turkey grappled with a wave of violence near its southern border with Syria, and as Turkey has made an abrupt about-face in deciding to confront the terrorist group ISIS.

Before the meeting began, Turkey's President called on NATO to "do its part" in helping address the country's concerns over security on its borders.

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