National security meeting discusses domestic events, Syria and MENA region

The National Security Council (MGK) convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of President Abdullah Gul in a meeting that lasted 3.5 hours and covered domestic security matters, an official statement says. The meeting also discussed recent developments and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, as well as other issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the statement adds. Turkey hosts over 200,000 Syrians in camps within its southern border and has spent a total of 2.5 billion dollars in aid so far. The MGK comprises Turkish Chief of General Staff and several cabinet members and ordinarily convenes every two months. After the reshuffle of Turkish cabinet late Wednesday, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah Isler and Interior Minister Efkan Ala participated for the first time. It was also the first MGK meeting as Minister of Justice for former Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replaced ten of his cabinet members on Wednesday amid an Istanbul-based anti-graft probe launched on December 17.