BRUSSELS
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he expected NATO allies to make a decision on Tuesday about Turkey's Patriot demand.
Rasmussen told reporters prior to NATO foreign ministerial meeting, "I would expect the Council of Ministers to take a decision this afternoon to enhance Turkey's air defences with the aim to ensure the defence and protection of the Turkish population and Turkey's territory. After that it is for the individual Allies who are capable to deploy Patriot missiles to take their decisions in full respect for domestic parliamentary procedures. But I would expect Germany, the Netherlands and the United States to be able to deploy Patriot missiles to Turkey."
Once the political decision has been made, the actual deployment will take place within weeks, he added.
Rasmussen said, "the situation on NATO's south-eastern border is of great concern. I am confident we will demonstrate our determination to deter against any threats and defend our Ally. Because this is what our Alliance is all about."
"As we have already made clear, any deployment would be defensive only. It would in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation. I have already told that to Russian foreign minister Lavrov in the spirit of full transparency. And I expect NATO ministers to repeat it when we meet in the NATO-Russia Council shortly," he said.
Rasmussen noted, "the Syrian stockpiles of chemical weapons are a matter of great concern. We know they have chemical weapons and of course they also have to be included in our calculations and this is also the reason why it is a matter of urgency to ensure effective defence and protection of our ally Turkey."
