In a speech made by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the Körber Global Leaders Dialogue in Berlin; Stoltenberg touched briefly upon the current crisis in Syria as well as lightly addressing the disagreements amongst the brethren.
Defusing tension towards Turkeys ongoing massacres in Rojava and Northern Syria, Stoltenberg said: “I say all of this knowing that many of you may be thinking about the disagreements, differences and divisions among NATO Allies. Over trade, energy, climate change, Iran. And most recently over the situation in northeast Syria.”
Taking Turkey under its wing, NATO secretary-general justified and legitimised the committed atrocities, without directly addressing them, by reducing the situation at hand to a row between mates rather recognising it as the crime against humanity which it really is. Stoltenberg continued, “We have had serious differences before. From the Suez Crisis in 1956. To the Iraq War in 2003. But at the end of the day, we have always been able to unite around our core task. To protect and defend each other.”
Claiming the victory of a revolution, and dismissing the actual force behind it, Stoltenberg said: “Another challenge which requires Europe and North America to stand together is the fight against international terrorism. Side by side in the US-led Global Coalition, we have made enormous progress in the fight against ISIS. Liberating vast territory and millions of people in Iraq and Syria.”
The statement was concluded with the following words: “The situation in northeast Syria remains very difficult. There are different views among Allies. But Allies agree on the need to safeguard the gains we have made in the fight against our common enemy, ISIS. To maintain the commitment to our missions and operations in the region. Including NATO’s training missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. And to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria through UN-led efforts.”
