'The allies will support Turkey,' NATO chief says

ISTANBUL

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen addresses a news conference in Brussels November 5, 2012, REUTERS photo

NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes the NATO allies will respond positively to Turkey's demand for Patriot missiles and will not avoid using their instruments for Turkey's defense.

He stressed the concerns of NATO allies about Turkey's defense and asserted that all allies were likely to support Turkey's demand for the missiles. "Turkey's demand for Patriot missiles is only for defensive purposes," Rasmussen said in an interview given to private Turkish broadcaster NTV.

"The deployment of missiles will conform to the NATO chain of command, of which Turkey is also a part," he added.

In response to a question regarding Russia's recent reaction about Turkey's Patriot request, Rasmussen said:  "Russia has no right to intervene in this process. This is a NATO decision, third parties have nothing to say."

Regarding the cost of the Patriot system, Rasmussen asserted that NATO finances would be used, while Turkey would also contribute as the host country.

The NATO chief was also questioned regarding the efficiency of Patriot missiles. "I suppose this deployment will be a dissuasive measure against potential aggression," he said. "Similar instruments were used in Turkey in 2003. NATO possesses sufficient instruments to provide Turkey's defense and will not avoid using them."

Rasmussen did not give a specific date for the deployment of the missiles, however he hinted that they would be deployed very soon by saying it would take days, not weeks.