Nato Confirms It Is Ready To Fulfil Obligations To Support Turkey's Defense

ANKARA - The Foreign Ministry said on Monday that NATO members confirmed that they were ready to fulfil their collective obligations stemming from the North Atlantic Treaty to support Turkey's defense.
A statement of the Foreign Ministry said that the Defense Planning Committee of NATO decided to extend support to Turkey within the terms of the fourth article of the North Atlantic Treaty during its meeting on Sunday.
The statement said, ''under the decision, NATO Military Authorities should provide military advice to the Defense Planning Committee on the following possible mission:
-Preventive deployment to Turkey of NATO AWACs for defensive purposes, as required for surveillance, early warning and maintaining the integrity of Turkish airspace,
-NATO support for possible deployment of theatre missile defenses to Turkey,
-NATO support for possible deployment of chemical and biological defense capabilities to Turkey.''
The statement noted that NATO Military Authorities were also charged to launch initiatives in order to review contingency plans related to the reinforcement of Turkey in the context of the current situation, update the plans as needed.
''Pursuant to proposals of NATO military authorities about defense measures, the Defense Planning Committee will take a decision about the implementation of these measures as a matter of urgency, will continue to consult in the context of the Turkey's request under Article 4, and will continue to follow closely discussion in the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council regarding Iraqi issue,'' said the statement.
The statement went on saying, ''Turkey has welcomed this decision taken as a result of the consultation process that was launched within the framework of Turkey's application under the fourth article of the North Atlantic Treaty on February 10, 2003. This decision of the Defense Planning Committee is important because it confirmed the support of the Alliance to our country.''
NATO Prague Summit resolution which said that implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolution no 1441 should be supported was also confirmed with this decision of the Committee, the statement pointed out.
The statement said that this decision to approve the planning of protection measures for Turkey was fully consistent with the deliberations and efforts in the United Nations.
Turkey would determinedly continue its initiatives to solve the Iraqi crisis through peaceful means, the statement added.