Joint Meeting of NATO Foreign and Defense Ministers was held in Brussels on 18-19 April 2012.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu and Minister of National Defense Mr. İsmet Yılmaz participated in the meetings where the preparations for NATO Summit which will be held in Chicago on 20-21 May 2012 were addressed. In this regard, Afghanistan, Deterrence and Defense Posture Review, missile defense, partnerships and NATO-Russia Federation relations issues were discussed.

Moreover, Foreign Minister Mr. Davutoğlu briefed comprehensively NATO Foreign Ministers concerning Syria during the unofficial working dinner on 18 April. Expressing that the Syrian Army violated Turkish border by opening fire, Foreign Minister Mr. Davutoğlu gave detailed information about the camps, where approximately 25,000 Syrians are hosted, and the attacks of Syrian Army against civilians at the different parts of the country.

As part of his contacts at NATO, Foreign Minister Mr. Davutoğlu brought up the issue of participation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in NATO’s Membership Action Plan (MAP). Together with Foreign Ministers of Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain Foreign Minister Mr. Davutoğlu signed a “non-paper” with a view to starting the MAP process by the Fall 2012. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and National Defense Minister Mr. Yılmaz met with Zlatko Lagumdzija and addressed the steps to be taken concerning NATO Membership Action Plan until the Chicago Summit.

Foreign Minister Mr. Davutoğlu and National Defense Minister Mr. Yılmaz held bilateral meetings with their counterparts on the occasion of meetings as well.