'Ill-intention caused NATO drill incident'

ISTANBUL

The NATO drill incident was caused by "ill-intentioned elements" in the global body, said head of the Turkish delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Istanbul, Ahmet Berat Conkar said: “The NATO drill incident was motivated by ill-intentioned elements which have infiltrated into NATO and hold a grudge against Turkey and its government.”

He added that NATO should launch an investigation into the incident and hold those responsible accountable.

Turkey withdrew its troops from NATO's Trident Javelin exercise in Norway last Friday after a civilian Norwegian official depicted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as an "enemy collaborator".

A portrait of Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was also shown in the "hostile leader list" during a computer-assisted exercise of the drill.

Following the incident, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg apologized to Turkey and Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar over the use of Erdogan’s name and Ataturk’s picture on an “enemy chart” during the drills.

To a question on Turkey’s reconsideration over ties with NATO, Conkar said, severing ties with NATO is beside the point as they date back to 65 years.

He added that Turkey could strengthen its position in NATO by prioritizing its security policies, international relations and geopolitics.

Reporting by Gulsum Incekaya:Writing by Ahmet Sait Akcay