ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey would apply NATO formally soon for deployment of Patriot missiles.
Answering questions at a press conference at the airport in Ankara before heading to Gaza, Davutoglu said that negotiations reached to the final step regarding possible developments and Turkey would apply NATO formally soon.
Davutoglu said that Turkey informed NATO on downing of Turkish military jet by Syria and killing of 5 Turkish citizens by an artillery shell fired from Syria as well as on the frame of the 4th article, in the last 5-6 months. He added that NATO's related committees had been working on possibilities since then.
Reminding that it was NATO's mission to provide security for its members when there was such border breaches and possible risks, Turkish FM said that deploying Patriots at the Turkey-Syria border was only for defense purposes and nothing else.
He said similar precautions were taken in the past and added that Turkey's main goal and responsibility was to guarantee the security of its citizens.
Saying that formal talks had been continuing in Brussels on Patriot missiles, he added that the formal application would be done soon.
Answering a question on from which countries the Patriots would be bought, Davutoglu said that "certain countries provide Patriots to NATO" and Turkey would make an agreement when needed.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and foreign ministers of 11 countries which are members of the Arab League will visit Gaza on Tuesday to extend support to Palestine.
Channels open to help people of Gaza
Davutoglu said that their channels were open to help of Gaza people.
Davutoglu and foreign ministers of some members of Arab League are heading to Gaza.
Replying to a question if there were any negotiations held with Israel to stop the conflict, he said, "If we can protect a single Gaza person, we will make all our efforts. In this scope, direct or/and indirect, we are ready to hold all our channels open. All our channels are open regarding to this matter."
Answering a question about the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the region, he said that they were always in contact with Clinton in the framework of ceasefire plan on which Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Arab League have been working.
Davutoglu said lasting steps were needed in regard to Palestine issue, adding that a Palestinian state whose capital was East Jerusalem needed to be established.
Turkey makes efforts to overcome differences between sides
Davutoglu said regarding Israel's attack on Gaza that they were making efforts to overcome differences of views between sides.
"Israeli attacks against Gaza in recent days increased and the tension in the region went up again," Davutoglu noted.
Reminding that Turkish officials held diplomatic talks on the Gaza issue, Davutoglu said that they hoped a cease-fire would be reached in the region very soon.
"What is the most important issue here is human life and the security of humans," Davutoglu underlined.
"The people of Gaza suffered immense pain in recent years. They are constantly losing blood due to Israeli attacks in conditions that resemble an open-air prison," he said.
"Today, the changing conditions of the region indicate that regional countries and regional peoples would not remain silent against this tragedy of humanity," Davutoglu stressed.
"It is high time for the Palestinians to live in their free homeland with pride," Davutoglu also said.
Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Gaza on Tuesday.
