UK: 'I expect Turkey to act with restraint' – NATO chief Stoltenberg

M/S NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg walking to podium, London
*NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General: "Let me just say a few words about the ongoing situation in Syria. The situation is of great concern. I met with [Turkish] President [Tayyip] Erdogan, as well as [Turkish Foreign] minister [Mevlut] Cavusoglu and [Turkish Defence] Minister [Hulusi] Akar, in Istanbul on Friday. I shared with them my serious concerns about the ongoing operation and the risk for further destabilising the region, escalating tensions and even more human suffering. Turkey has legitimate security concerns. No other ally has suffered more terrorist attacks, no other ally is more exposed to the instability, violence and turmoil from the Middle East and no other ally hosts so many refugees from Syria. Nevertheless, I expect Turkey to act with restraint and in coordination with other allies so that we can preserve the gains we have made against our common enemy Daesh [Islamic State]."
*NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General: "An imminent concern is that captured terrorists must not be allowed to escape. The international community must find a coordinated and sustainable solution to deal with foreign fighters held in Syria."
M/S Stoltenberg leaving podium
SCRIPT
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he had expressed 'great concern' over Turkey's military operation in north-eastern Syria during his speech at a session of the bloc's Parliamentary Assembly in London on Monday.
"I met with [Turkish] President [Tayyip] Erdogan, as well as [Turkish Foreign] minister [Mevlut] Cavusoglu and [Turkish Defence] Minister [Hulusi] Akar, in Istanbul on Friday. I shared with them my serious concerns about the ongoing operation and the risk for further destabilising the region, escalating tensions and even more human suffering," said Stoltenberg..
"An imminent concern is that captured terrorists must not be allowed to escape. The international community must find a coordinated and sustainable solution to deal with foreign fighters held in Syria," added NATO chief.
Stoltenberg also said that Turkey possessed legitimate security concerns in the region but that he expected it to act with restraint and in cooperation with allies.