NATO chief on contingency plans to “defend” Turkey from Syria
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
November 5, 2012
Monthly press conference by the NATO Secretary General
From question and answer period
Oana Lungescu (NATO Spokesperson): OK, lady over there, Middle East News Agency.
Q: Will NATO accept the demand of Turkey to deploy Patriot missiles along its border with Syria?
Anders Fogh Rasmussen: First of all, let me stress that we have not received such a request. If we were to receive such a request, Allies would have to consider it.
…
Oana Lungescu: NTV Turkey.
Q: Yes, Secretary General, two questions if I may. My first question is with regard to Syria again. I know that you made a statement prior to the defence ministers meeting saying that NATO is ready for all kinds of situation with regard…and is ready to give support. I was wondering whether there is an update at a technical level or military level in any contingency plan or scenario and whether the radar system that is in Turkey with regard with missile defence system would eventually work with any threat coming from Syria as well…
Anders Fogh Rasmussen: As regards your first question, as you know, as a matter of principle, we’ll never comment on contingency planning and updates of contingency plans. But I think you would be surprised if a defence alliance like NATO didn’t have all plans in place to protect and defend any Ally including of course Turkey. And this is the reason why I have stated publicly on several occasions that of course we stand ready to protect and defend Turkey if so needed. But obviously we don’t comment on details in our contingency planning.
Lunatics in charge of the asylum, as ever.