19 February 2003
Bush Welcomes NATO Defense Planning Committee Decision on Turkey
(Calls it "important demonstration" of NATO solidarity) (280)
President Bush welcomed the decision February 19 by NATO's Defense
Planning Committee to approve the deployment of AWACS aircraft,
Patriot missiles, and biological and chemical defense equipment to
Turkey as "an important demonstration of the solidarity of NATO allies
in view of a potential threat to an Alliance member."
Following is the text of Bush's statement:
(begin text)
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
February 19, 2003
PRESIDENT WELCOMES NATO'S DEFENSE PLANNING COMMITTEE DECISION
Statement by the President
I welcome today's decision by NATO's Defense Planning Committee to
approve the deployment of AWACS aircraft, Patriot missiles, and
biological and chemical defense equipment to Turkey. This is an
important demonstration of the solidarity of NATO allies in view of a
potential threat to an Alliance member. It follows the decision taken
on Sunday, by the same committee, to request military planning for
such deployments.
Today's decision is a direct response to the request by Turkey for
consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, as well as the
commitment by all NATO Heads of State and Government, stated at Prague
on November 21, 2002, "to take effective action to assist and support
the efforts of the UN to ensure the full and immediate compliance by
Iraq, without conditions or restrictions, with UNSCR 1441."
I am grateful for the resolute leadership of NATO Secretary General
Lord Robertson in bringing the Alliance discussions to a successful
conclusion. I also appreciate the efforts of all the members of the
Defense Planning Committee to fulfill their responsibilities as
Alliance members in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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