( NATO ) - The recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, the need to move forward on the status of Kosovo and NATO-EU relations were the main focus of the NATO Secretary General's visit to Ankara, 12 June.
Mr. De Hoop Scheffer met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Defence Minister Mehmet Vecdi Gonul and the Chief of Defence, General Yasar Buyukanit.
They discussed a number of issues, beginning with NATO's operations and missions. On Afghanistan they agreed on the need for more investments in training and equipping the Afghan national forces, where Turkey is already making an important contribution.
They also agreed on the need for a UN Security Council Resolution on the Kosovo status as quickly as possible, based on the plan proposed by the UN's Special Envoy for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari.
Terrorism was also on the agenda. The Secretary General expressed his condolences for the recent victims of terrorism in Turkey. There was discussion on the regional security situation, and in that context Mr. De Hoop Scheffer expressed his view on the importance of maximum restraint by Turkey with regard to terrorist attacks originating from Iraq.
Finally, the Secretary General and his interlocutors discussed NATO-EU relations.They committed to make the maximum effort to take NATO-EU relations forward.