Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg stated the need to keep Turkey within NATO, despite disagreements over the Turkish operation in Syria.
“I think, frankly, it’s better if Turkey joins NATO, and not outside the alliance, it’s better to leave her in our family. And we will talk to each other in the family. It’s better, it’s better to talk than to be silent”, – she said on press conferences following negotiations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
She added that the EU countries gave Turkey a clear signal, saying on the eve of the cessation of new arms supplies to Ankara.
In turn, Merkel added that both countries, like other EU members, continue to monitor Turkey’s operation with concern. She noted the need to return to the negotiations of Western countries with Turkey.
On October 9, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced the launch of Operation Source of Peace in northern Syria against the Kurdistan Workers Party and the Islamic State terrorist group. Turkish aviation attacked the city of Ras al-Ain and a number of other Syrian cities on the border of the two countries on the same day. Later it was announced the start of the ground part of the operation.