Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, issued today the following statement: "I am extremely concerned about the violence on the Turkish-Syrian border yesterday. The loss of lives in a member state of the Council of Europe is deplorable, and illustrates the risk of the Syrian conflict spreading in the region.

I call upon the Syrian leadership to end the senseless killing and upon the international community to agree on a united and effective response to address this crisis. I extend my sincere condolences to the Turkish government and the relations of the victims."