National Security Council condemns Egypt crackdown, urges UN to act on Syria chemical attack claims

ANKARA –Anadolu Agency

The National Security Council (MGK) on Aug. 21 condemned Egypt for the crackdown on supporters of the ousted President Mohamed Morsi, in its first regular meeting since the July 3 military takeover that drew a strong reaction in Ankara. The council, consisting of top civilian and military officials, also urged the United Nations Security Council to “immediately act” over reports of a chemical weapons attack by Syrian regime forces that are said to have left more than 1,300 dead.
 
“We have stressed it is necessary for the international community and the U.N. Security Council in the first instance to immediately act on the violence committed by the [Syrian] regime to its own people, with disregard of legal and human values,” according to the statement issued following the meeting that lasted around three-and-a-half hours.
 
The council expressed strong concern that the events in Egypt could have a “negative impact on the whole region.” “We have called for the reestablishment of the peaceful environment and the return to a democratic system that has been interrupted,” the statement also said.
 
The council also touched on the increasing clashes between Turkish soldiers deployed at border posts with smugglers along the Syrian frontier. Measures to prevent the rise of smuggling activities in the region were dealt, the statement said. Iraq and the Middle East peace process were also dealt with during the meeting.
 
The council is presided over by President Abdullah Gül, and sees the participation of top civilian and military officials, including the prime minister and the Chief of General Staff.