Turkey expresses commitment to contribute to US led coalition against ISIL
Finally Turkey has had to announce its commitment to join the operation to be carried out by the US led coalition against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Turkey after having felt the pressure from President Obama hasa had to accept to play specific roles in a likely battle against referred organisation which has been spreading horror all around the Middle East as well as the world itself.
This decision was voiced by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, after talks with Turkish leaders on Monday. Hagel explained that Turkey was the only Muslim nation in a “core coalition” of 10 countries that met on the sidelines of a NATO summit last week. He did not fail to add that any role Turkey would play might be limited by a host of concerns, including fears for Turkish hostages held by the militants.
“Today’s meetings were a reaffirmation, clearly, of Turkey’s commitment to be part of this effort, to destroy ISIL and everything that ISIL represents,” Hagel said after talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz.
Commenting on Turkey’s future participation, Hagel said: “They want to play roles, specific roles. They will play those and they will be articulated by the Turkish government — not by me — when that decision is made.”
In his remarks to reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said security issues in Iraq and Syria and cooperation opportunities against threats in the region were discussed during the meetings between Hagel and Turkish officials. However, the deputy prime minister avoided revealing whether or not Turkey will join the coalition against ISIL.
“Necessary evaluations regarding the stance our country will adopt regarding this issue will be made by the [relevant] institutions now and from now on,” Arınç said in a response to a question asking whether Turkey will have a place in the core coalition against ISIL.
The coalition against ISIL — which calls itself the “Islamic State” — is initially planned to be comprised of 10 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Italy, Poland, Denmark as well as the US and Turkey. This decision came during the NATO summit held in Wales last week. Turkey is the only Muslim nation in this coalition, which is planned to be expanded in the near future.
SOURCE: MEDIA
