Parliament Approves Draft Laws About Nato's Extension

ANKARA - Parliamentary General Assembly approved on Wednesday four separate draft laws about NATO's extension.
The draft laws envisages participation of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia in the North Atlantic Treaty.
The drafts were approved with votes of ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and opposing Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies.
Speaking at the session in which the drafts were put to vote, Vahit Erdem of the AK Party said, ''NATO, which was established in 1949, have begun extending to the east due to the changing conditions in the world. Turkey has considered this process positive, and extended full support.''
''Terrorism has replaced the threats of the Cold War era. Therefore, a change has been required in structure of the Alliance. According to the our point of view, this change should also be reflected in armed forces of the allied countries. Existing conditions in the world entails armed forces having the ability of taking action in the possible shortest period,'' he said.
Recalling that some different views had emerged in the Alliance during the war in Iraq, Erdem said, ''the United States and Europe assumed different attitudes about the war. This revealed that NATO's extension is beneficial, but also includes some problems.''
Meanwhile, Halil Akyuz of the CHP pointed out that NATO's extension would have positive impacts on Turkey.
(UK) 05.11.2003