NATO Secretary General at the International Contact Group for Libya in Istanbul: NATO remains committed to protect the Libyan people

“I need to underline that any ceasefire among the parties would have to be credible, verifiable and with clear conditions” the Secretary General said.  “Otherwise, we would risk a rebound of the violence.”

The Secretary General stressed that NATO remains committed to protect the Libyan people and this is what the United Nations Security Council has asked the Alliance to do. He highlighted that as long as the Qadhafi regime continues to attack and threaten its own people, NATO’s mission will continue.

The Secretary General also met with Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan and with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu.

The Secretary General commended Turkey for its efforts to find a political solution to the conflict that accommodates the legitimate aspirations of the people of Libya. The Secretary General also strongly condemned the terrorist attack that killed 13 Turkish soldiers in Dyiarbakir province yesterday.