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6:19 AM
Turkey says, it will seek the support of its NATO allies on the row with Syria over downing of its fighter jet in the international airspace, off the mediterranean coast, last week. Syria says, the plane violated its airspace and was downed in an act of self-defence, while Turkey has alleged the move as an act of aggression. NATO leaders are holding a special meeting in Brussels over the issue today. It is only the second time in NATO’s 63-year history that it has convened a meeting under Article 4 of its charter which provides for consultations when a member state feels its territorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat. The only other time NATO was convened under Article 4, was in 2003 to discuss the Iraq war, again at the request of Turkey. Damascus has warned Turkey and NATO against retaliation. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jihad Makkdissi said, NATO is supposed to be there to strengthen countries and if their meeting is for hostile reasons, Syria is not scared. In a letter to UN security Council, Turkey condemned the hostile act by the Syrian authorities against Turkey’s national security and that it posed a serious threat to peace and security in the region. After a seven hour long meeting of the Turkish Cabinet yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said in Ankara that Syria’s actions would not go unpunished. He however clarified that any action would be taken as per the international laws. The incident has raised tensions in the region. Turkey hosts a large number of Syrian refugees and rebels along the Syrian border and Syria alleges they are being armed to destabilize the country.
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