NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has praised Turkey for its strong contributions to the Atlantic Alliance and emphasised that NATO stands in solidarity with Turkey. Speaking at a press conference with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevluet Cavusoglu, Stoltenberg said on 6 May "Turkey is an important and highly valued NATO ally. I welcome [the fact] that Turkey is playing a key role in our training mission in Iraq." Stoltenberg also held separate talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevluet Cavusoglu, discussing the sensitive security situation in the region. Stoltenberg referred to NATO's AWACS surveillance aircraft operating from Konya in support of the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh and NATO's training mission in Iraq, which is strengthening the Iraqi security forces to ensure that Daesh can never return. Looking at current tensions in Afghanistan, he told the media "Turkey is one of the biggest contributors to our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, helping to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists."
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