Turkey evaluates EU troop demand for CAR

BRUSSELS – Anadolu Agency

People gather to watch French soldiers search a house used as an armed cache in the Christian sector of PK12, the last checkpoint at the exit of the town, in Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb 11. AP photo

Turkey is set to consider a request by the European Union to deploy troops to the Central African Republic as part of a union-wide effort to halt ethnic cleansing against the country’s Muslim population. 

The demand to send troops was brought to the attention of Turkey in Brussels on Feb. 13 at a meeting under the leadership of French Maj. Gen. Philippe Ponties who has been appointed the commander of the EU military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR-CAR). Apart from EU countries, Turkey, the United States, Canada, Georgia, Norway and Serbia were also present at the meeting, whose aim was to determine potential contributors to the force. 

Turkey was asked to contribute to the force either in the field or at the headquarters, although EU sources declined to comment on the scope and nature of the demand they made to the countries. 

Turkey did not made any comment on the proposal during the meeting, according to sources. 
It has been learned that Catherine Ashton, the high representative for foreign and security affairs of the EU, is writing a letter to be sent to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on the EU’s military operation.