NATO hails Turkish-Russian brokered Syrian truce

ANKARA

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has congratulated Ankara for its efforts in brokering a nationwide ceasefire in Syria in a phone call to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. 

According to diplomatic sources, Stoltenberg conveyed NATO’s messages for the cease-fire agreement in Syria struck after joint efforts from Turkey and Russia. 

In the conversation, Stoltenberg expressed NATO’s support for the process, while evaluating the latest developments in Syria and further steps to be taken after the ceasefire. The two parties also discussed the train-equip activities in Iraq, the coalition’s air support for the operation in al-Bab, and NATO’s support for Turkey.

Çavuşoğlu and Stoltenberg reportedly reached an agreement to hold a meeting as soon as possible.

The conversation came a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized NATO and Western allies for not providing sufficient support to Turkey’s ongoing operation in northern Syria.