21 February 2003
NATO Radar Planes Deployed to Turkey
(Will defend integrity of Turkish airspace) (270)
On February 20, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General James
L. Jones ordered NATO radar planes based in Geilenkirchen, Germany to
deploy to Turkey and to begin flying missions in defense of Turkish
airspace by February 27.
Following is the NATO press release:
(begin text)
NATO Press Release
February 21, 2003
http://www.nato.int
NATO AWACS TO PATROL SKIES OVER TURKEY
AWACS AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
SHAPE Headquarters, Casteau -- The Supreme Allied Commander Europe,
General James L. Jones, yesterday, 20 February, ordered the NATO
Airborne Early Warning and Control Force to deploy to Turkey with
their AWACS aircraft based in Geilenkirchen, Germany.
SACEUR decision follows the NATO Defence Planning Committee
announcement on 19 February, "authorising the military authorities to
implement, as a matter of urgency, defensive measures to assist
Turkey."
The deployment to Turkey will provide surveillance and early warning
for defensive purposes, in order to maintain the integrity of Turkish
airspace. The aircraft will operate out of their forward operating
location, at the Turkish Air Force base in Konya.
AWACS together with Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA)
"As NATO's strategic military advisor, SACEUR has recommended to the
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee that the AWACS and their crews
would be a visible and highly effective defensive capability in the
event that Turkey was threatened," said Major General Dora, Force
Commander of the NATO AWACS fleet.
The first NATO aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Turkey to support
this mission early next week and they will be flying missions in
defence of Turkish air space by 27 Feb. 03.
(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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