New NATO Chief Says Alliance Will Defend Turkey If It's Attacked

NATO's new Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that the alliance's mutual defense clause would be applied if Turkey was in any way attacked. "Our responsibility, the basic responsibility, is to stand up and be very clear that we are going to protect Turkey, that collective defense, Article 5, is something which is also going to be applied if Turkey is in any way attacked," he said during his first press conference at NATO headquarters. Article 5 is NATO's key mutual self-defense clause. Stoltenberg also said he plans to visit Turkey in the next few days. Private broadcaster NTV said the visit will take place Oct. 8-10.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)