Important domestic and foreign developments that are of close concern to Turkey's security were discussed during the meeting, the written statement issued following the NSC meeting read.

The Council was briefed on the fight waged at home and abroad against all terrorist organizations, especially the PKK/PYD-YPG, FETO and DAESH, which threaten Turkey's national unity and solidarity as well as its permanence.

All the aspects of the issue were discussed during the meeting, noted the statement, which underscored that the Operations Claw-1 and Claw-2 are being successfully carried out against the PKK in the north of Iraq and that anti-terror operations will continue until the regions where these operations are taking place are completely cleared of terror.

The statement stressed that the heinous attack, in which a Turkish diplomat on duty at Turkey's Erbil Consulate General was martyred, was strongly condemned.

"It was stated during the meeting that the works aimed at shedding light on the attack’s background and at taking necessary steps about the perpetrators will be closely monitored to the end."

It is unacceptable that the PKK/PYD-YPG, which forcefully recruits children and uses them in acts of terror, is still considered as an ally by some countries and is militarily and politically supported, including in terms of training and equipment, despite the well-known fact that it has been committing the crimes in question for a long time, the statement read.

"It was concluded during the meeting that deleting the red notice for some terrorists, particularly the so-called leaders of the PYD-YPG ─ the terrorist organization PKK’s Syrian extension ─ and not issuing a red notice for some FETO-member terrorists will cause grave harm to the global fight against terror and Interpol’s founding objectives."

"Given the fact that the authority vacuum, which emerged along our Syrian border, increased the threats against our country, our determination was reaffirmed in order for the region to be cleared of all terrorist elements within the framework of our border security and in order for efforts to be exerted with full strength towards the formation of a peace corridor," the statement further stressed.

Turkey's sensitivity and expectations about the strategic partnership as well as defense and security cooperation were underlined during the meeting, the statement highlighted.

"It was stated that our country, in line with the spirit of the NATO Treaty and bilateral agreements, abides by its commitments and responsibilities within the framework of the international law and the pacta sunt servanda principle and that it expects the same sensitivity also from its allies."

"The critical importance of maintaining our determined and principled stance ─ which is based on regional peace and stability and contributes to the improvement of cooperation ─ for the protection of our rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean emanating from the international law as well as for the protection of the rights and interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was emphasized during the meeting." (ILKHA)