Tension in Syria and Iraq top security meet

ANKARA

Syria, Iraq and terrorist activities were on the agenda of the MGK meeting. AA photo

Tensions in neighboring Iraq and Syria as well as terrorist activities were on the agenda of the latest meeting of the National Security Council (MGK), which gathers the country’s top civilian and military leaders.

A statement was released following the four-hour long meeting led by President Abdullah Gül.
During the meeting, the leaders highlighted that both Turkey and the international community should continue exerting increasing efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria. They also took note of the fact that with winter conditions, the humanitarian tragedy in Syria would worsen.

The MGK statement also implicitly referred to the ongoing tension between the central government of Iraq and the regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq.

“The concern over gradually rising tension between opposition groups in the county has been voiced. Additionally, the current situation of our bilateral relations with Iraq and its future were also discussed,” said the statement.

While reviewing terrorist activities in 2012, the leaders also discussed additional measures that could be taken against these activities. Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had separately gathered with Cabinet members who are also members of the MGK.