SHAPE NEWS MORNING UPDATE 13 FEBRUARY 2002 |
| NATO AFGHANISTAN
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NATO
- Greece’s minister of defense on Tuesday urged NATO to admit East European candidates, eventually including Russia and Ukraine . "We want all East European countries to join the big West European organizations," Yannos Papantoniou said, referring to the EU and NATO. "We also support the accession of Russia and Ukraine to NATO." He addressed reporters after talks with his Bulgarian colleague Nikolai Svinarov. "Greece wants no more division lines in Europe," Papantoniou declared. "We paid a high price for them." Speaking about Russia and Ukraine, Papantoniou said that it should be a "gradual admission" in which both countries would initially be given some decision-making power. He said Greece supports "the full accession of Russia and Ukraine to NATO ... when conditions are ripe."(AP 121347 Feb 02 GMT)
AFGHANISTAN
- Britain supports the idea of Turkey taking over its command of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday after talks here with the Turkish premier . Straw said Britain would "support" the idea of Turkish command of the force but he would not say if Britain would help meet the costs. "Turkey is very well placed to take it on, but whether it will is a matter for the Turks," Straw said. Straw spoke to reporters in Istanbul where he was attending a meeting between European and Islamic nations aimed at creating cooperation and understanding following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Turkey is sending 261 troops to Afghanistan beginning Friday. They will join around 4,500 troops from Britain, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. Turkey will also provide equipment and uniforms for about 600 Afghan troops who will make up the first unit of a newly formed Afghan military.(AP 121750 Feb 02 GMT)
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