NATO to assist in Turkish defense if necessary, no request for Patriot missiles as yet
BRUSSELS. Nov 19 (Interfax) - It would be premature to discuss the supply of Patriot missiles to Turkey before such a request is made, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said upon his arrival to a defense ministerial meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
Rasmussen said they had not received an official request from Turkey but he stayed in touch with the Turkish government and was seriously concerned over the situation on the Syrian-Turkish border.
He also stressed that NATO intended to assist in the protection of the Turkish territory if that was necessary.
He said a possible request from Turkey for active support to its defense would be discussed urgently.
Deployment of missiles on Turkish territory will be a rather efficient way of Turkish defense, Rasmussen said. "If an official request for missiles is made, Turkey can count on solidarity of its allies," he said, adding that it would be premature to discuss details of the possible missile deployment.
He also said that the alliance had not discussed a no-fly zone above Syria.
