---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Turkey has, of course, the right to…"
description: "\"Turkey has, of course, the right to protect itself against terrorism, against attacks, but I expect it to be done in a way which is in accordance with ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg"
---

#  Turkey has, of course, the right to protect itself against…

![“Turkey has, of course, the right to protect itself against terrorism, against attacks, but I expect it to be done in a way which is in accordance with the rule of law, democratic values. And that is something I have expressed several times in meetings with the Turkish leaders.” quote by Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg)

> “Turkey has, of course, the right to protect itself against terrorism, against attacks, but I expect it to be done in a way which is in accordance with the rule of law, democratic values. And that is something I have expressed several times in meetings with the Turkish leaders.”

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Turkey must combat terrorism while respecting law and democratic values, aligning with international standards

**In simple terms:** Counterterrorism must adhere to rule of law and democracy

Key Takeaway

Uphold legal standards in security actions

Themes

politics security law

Mood

formal serious

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- Policy making
- military operations
- diplomacy
- humanitarian law

Key Concepts

International relations human rights

Questions to Reflect On

- How can states ensure lawful counterterrorism?
- What safeguards protect democratic values?

A Different Perspective

Balancing security and liberty is often politically contentious

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democratic values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-values/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/)

## Related quotes

> [At various stages, ID cards have been necessary to protect us from terrorism, illegal immigration, and benefit fraud. But former home secretaries, academics and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/at-various-stages-id-cards-have-been-necessary-to-protect-us-from/)

[Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/)

> [To protect us from terrorism, we must have the best, absolutely the best gathering of intelligence anywhere in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-protect-us-from-terrorism-we-must-have-the-best-absolutely-the/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [It would be easy to define terrorism as attacks against human rights and international humanitarian law forbids attacks against innocent non-combatants which is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joichi-ito/it-would-be-easy-to-define-terrorism-as-attacks-against-human-rights/)

[Joichi Ito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joichi-ito/)

> [If Clinton had only attacked terrorism as much as he attacks George Bush we wouldn't be in this problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/if-clinton-had-only-attacked-terrorism-as-much-as-he-attacks-george/)

[Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/)

> [Terrorism attacks peoples' trust in the system of their state. There is protection, but only if there is collective action and collective understanding about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/terrorism-attacks-peoples-trust-in-the-system-of-their-state-there-is/)

[Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/)

> [You cannot transpose the U.S. system on Turkey, and the Turkish system on France etc. You have to understand the people and their culture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/you-cannot-transpose-the-u-s-system-on-turkey-and-the-turkish-system/)

[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/)

> [Turkey will not let Turkish territory or airspace be used in any activity that could harm the security or safety of Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-babacan/turkey-will-not-let-turkish-territory-or-airspace-be-used-in-any/)

[Ali Babacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-babacan/)

> [Our politics is very masculine, very aggressive, and it's very polarizing. And the pace of this development has increased in recent years. Erdogan is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/our-politics-is-very-masculine-very-aggressive-and-it-s-very/)

[Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/)

> [A man may grow rich in Turkey even, if he will be in all respects a good subject of the Turkish government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-may-grow-rich-in-turkey-even-if-he-will-be-in-all-respects-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Foreign journalists writing about Turkey like to focus on the most fundamental divide in Turkish society: the rift between religious conservatives and secularists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/foreign-journalists-writing-about-turkey-like-to-focus-on-the-most/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [Turkey has a very young, dynamic, curious population. In Europe, Facebook and Twitter are mostly about sharing daily experiences while for Turkish people, social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/turkey-has-a-very-young-dynamic-curious-population-in-europe-facebook/)

[Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/)

> [Almost half of the Turkish population believes it is not legitimate to criticize the government. Interestingly, this correlates with the number of supporters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/almost-half-of-the-turkish-population-believes-it-is-not-legitimate/)

[Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/)

> [Because of our Turkish roots, we still have a very strong relationship with Turkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkay-gundogan/because-of-our-turkish-roots-we-still-have-a-very-strong-relationship/)

[Ilkay Gundogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkay-gundogan/)

> [ He \[Erdogan\] has crept up to the edge talking about mistakes by pilots. But he also knows that with leaders like himself and Vladimir… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kenyon/he-erdogan-has-crept-up-to-the-edge-talking-about-mistakes-by-pilots/)

[Peter Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kenyon/)

> [There are people who say that "Gül can't be my president". These people don't have good manners for and they should renounce their Turkish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/there-are-people-who-say-that-g-l-can-t-be-my-president-these-people/)

[Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/)

## More by Jens Stoltenberg

> [The answer to violence is even more democracy. Even more humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/the-answer-to-violence-is-even-more-democracy-even-more-humanity/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [Turkey's a valued ally, important ally for NATO, not the least because of its strategic geographic location, bordering Syria and Iraq and close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/turkey-s-a-valued-ally-important-ally-for-nato-not-the-least-because/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [We are living in a world in which developments are harder to predict and one that has become more uncertain. In such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/we-are-living-in-a-world-in-which-developments-are-harder-to-predict/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [The main experience, I think, is that we have managed: people moving to Norway has made Norway richer, economically, but also our culture has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/the-main-experience-i-think-is-that-we-have-managed-people-moving-to/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [We will not put a lid on opinions. On the contrary, it is more important than ever that political debates are open and free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/we-will-not-put-a-lid-on-opinions-on-the-contrary-it-is-more/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [One of the lessons learned from 22 July is that we have to take seriously all those people who take part in debates on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/one-of-the-lessons-learned-from-22-july-is-that-we-have-to-take/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness: a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk, and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/when-autumn-darkness-falls-what-we-will-remember-are-the-small-acts/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [We have a high standard of living. ... In Norway, we've tripled our income since 1970. In the rest of western Europe, income has merely doubled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/we-have-a-high-standard-of-living-in-norway-we-ve-tripled-our-income/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [What NATO troops are doing in Afghanistan is to train, assist and advise Afghans, but they are actually doing the fighting. They are actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/what-nato-troops-are-doing-in-afghanistan-is-to-train-assist-and/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [Today we are all Egyptians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/today-we-are-all-egyptians/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/by-voting-we-add-our-voice-to-the-chorus-that-forms-opinions-and-the/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [The most important thing is to build local capacity, meaning train local forces, build the local defense institutions, defense ministries, command and control, because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/the-most-important-thing-is-to-build-local-capacity-meaning-train/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [The Norwegian response to violence is more democracy, more openness and greater political participation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/the-norwegian-response-to-violence-is-more-democracy-more-openness/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [NATO is based on shared values. Democracy, individual civil liberties and the rule of law. In public and also in meetings with the allies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/nato-is-based-on-shared-values-democracy-individual-civil-liberties/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

> [Evil can kill a person but never conquer a people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/evil-can-kill-a-person-but-never-conquer-a-people/)

[Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

[Explore all 31 Jens Stoltenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/)

## More Democratic quotes

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/)

[Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/)

> [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/)

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

> [Further more Yemen is leading pioneer in democratic practice, lots of brothers and friends testified on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-abdullah-saleh/further-more-yemen-is-leading-pioneer-in-democratic-practice-lots-of/)

[Ali Abdullah Saleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-abdullah-saleh/)

> [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/)

[Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/)

> [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/)

[Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/)

> [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/)

[Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/)

> [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/)

[David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/)

> [While living in America when I attended Harvard in the early 1970s, I saw for myself the awesome, almost miraculous, power of a people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benazir-bhutto/while-living-in-america-when-i-attended-harvard-in-the-early-1970s-i/)

[Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benazir-bhutto/)

> [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [The creatives, they want to connect with people. These artists, the clothing designers, they want to connect with people the same way that music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-creatives-they-want-to-connect-with-people-these-artists-the/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

Browse all 2,850 Democratic quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Turkey has, of course, the right to protect itself against terrorism, against attacks, but I expect it to be done in a way which is in accordance with the rule of law, democratic values. And that is something I have expressed several times in meetings with the Turkish leaders.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jens Stoltenberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protect-itself-against-terrorism/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democratic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protect-itself-against-terrorism/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jens-stoltenberg-20145_democratic_turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protec_2790361.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Turkey has, of course, the right to protect itself against terrorism, against attacks, but I expect it to be…” — Jens Stoltenberg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jens Stoltenberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Turkey has, of course, the right...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protect-itself-against-terrorism/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/turkey-has-of-course-the-right-to-protect-itself-against-terrorism/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
