Nato Members Reach Full Consensus On Joint Fight Against Terrorism

ISTANBUL - Heads of state and government of NATO member countries reached full consensus on joint fight against terrorism and decided to take new measures in NATO Istanbul Summit on Monday.
Leaders say that terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction were ''biggest threats'' against NATO and international community and shed green light to using ''advanced technology'' to counter these threats.
NATO sources say that the United States and European members of NATO have agreed to take concrete measures.
While leaders are working on ''share of intelligence'', they have decided to review structure of intelligence units under NATO's roof and adapt them to the daily conditions.
Under Istanbul resolutions, capabilities of NATO will be increased and thus, NATO can quickly respond to any of its member who ask for support to fight against terrorism.
Member countries will cooperate in producing methods to protect themselves from nuclear, biological, radiological and chemical weapons of mass destruction.
NATO will also work to enhance cooperation with non-NATO countries and EU to counter terrorism.
NATO had decided to invoke the fifth article of the North Atlantic Treaty after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States and taken action to do what was necessary to defend an ally who was attacked.
Since then, NATO has been exerting efforts to undertake a concrete and effective role in fighting against terrorism.
The Alliance is giving priority to countering terrorism under the auspices of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Under Active Endeavor, the NATO operation launched in the Mediterranean on October 6, 2001 immediately after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, sea traffic, ships and cargoes are controlled as a part of efforts to fight terrorism.
NATO officials state that Alliance peacekeeping units in the Balkans staged operations against terrorist formations and followed arms and drug traffickers.
NATO offers to its members AWACS early warning aircraft as a part of efforts to counter terrorism.
Three AWACS planes are currently patrolling in skies of Istanbul to ensure security during the NATO summit.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Deference Battalion (CBRN) of the Alliance also undertakes roles in countering terrorism.
NATO officials say that joint fight against terrorism, which they define as ''the biggest threat of the 21st century, will be high on NATO's agenda in coming days.
(BRC-AÖ) 28.06.2004