(MENAFN- Trend News Agency ) Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20
By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:
It is time to reconsider the issue of Turkey's membership in NATO, Turkish media cited Yalcin Topcu, chief advisor to the country's president, as saying Nov. 20.
'The Turkish parliament must consider the issue of Ankara's membership in NATO as soon as possible,' he said. 'Turkey depends on other countries in the defense sphere thanks to NATO. Unfortunately, NATO is hostile towards Turkey."
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the country withdrew its servicemen participating in NATO exercises in Norway.
The reason is that photos of Turkey's incumbent president, as well as first president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk were placed as conditional enemy images on the shooting range as part of the military exercises.
Erdogan added that such behavior does not correspond to the spirit of cooperation and alliance between Turkey and NATO.
The Turkish president said that around 40 Turkish servicemen were to participate in the exercises.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg apologized to Turkey in connection with the scandal that occurred during the NATO exercises in Norway.
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