18 February 2003
NATO Agrees on Measures to Support Turkey
(Principles of consensus and collective security upheld, Robertson
says) (530)
Brussels -- After lengthy discussions, NATO Secretary General, Lord
Robertson, announced on February 16 that the Alliance had reached
agreement on steps to help defend Turkey from possible military attack
by Iraq.
With today's agreement, Lord Robertson said, NATO will begin planning
for the possible deployment in Turkey of AWACS surveillance aircraft,
theater missile defenses, and chemical and biological defense systems.
"These measures are intended to provide Turkey solely with defensive
assistance," Robertson added.
"We agree on substance, we agree on timing, and we agree on how to
integrate our collective solidarity with Turkey in the wider context,"
Robertson said following a day-long meeting of NATO's Defense Planning
Committee.
"Alliance solidarity has prevailed," Robertson said. "NATO nations
have assumed their collective responsibility towards Turkey, a nation
at the moment under threat."
Following is a transcript of Lord Robertson's statement at NATO
Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on February 16, 2003:
(begin transcript)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO Headquarters
Statement
February 16, 2003
NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson
After the NATO Defence Planning Committee Meeting
Good evening ladies and gentlemen and thank you for your patience.
It's been a long day for all of us. But we have come to a conclusion.
Ambassadors of 18 NATO nations, members in the Defence Planning
Committee of NATO, came to this building this morning confident that
we had the elements necessary to provide the basis for a consensus
decision.
The discussions today were both arduous but constructive. One country
-- Belgium -- proposed amendments to a draft decision sheet which were
discussed and considered at some length.
I am happy to announce that we have been able -- collectively - to
overcome the impasse we have faced for the past few days.
We agree on substance, we agree on timing, and we agree on how to
integrate our collective solidarity with Turkey in the wider context.
A political decision backed by consensus has always been the preferred
choice of this Alliance. The search for consensus remains a
cornerstone of how the North Atlantic Alliance operates.
It is therefore with great personal satisfaction that I can now
confirm that the 18 NATO Allies, members of the integrated military
structure, agreed today to task military planners to begin their work
and advise Allies with military advice on the following possible
missions:
-- Preventive deployment of AWACS aircraft;
-- NATO support for the deployment of theatre missile defences for
Turkey;
-- NATO support for possible deployment of Allied chemical and
biological defence capabilities.
The military authorities will also review contingency plans related to
the reinforcement of Turkey in the context of the current situation,
and update these plans as needed.
These measures are intended to provide Turkey solely with defensive
assistance.
Alliance solidarity has prevailed. NATO nations have assumed their
collective responsibility towards Turkey, a nation at the moment under
threat.
In closing, I wish to say that my choices were always taken having in
mind the greater interest of the Alliance as a whole. My job as
Secretary General of NATO is to lead the nations towards consensus.
And that is what I've done today. Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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