NATO SAYS READY TO SEND GROUND TROOPS TO TURKEY IF NEEDED

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a press conference

Brussels, 24 Dzulhijjah 1436/8 October 2015 (MINA) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hinted Thursday that the 28-member Alliance would be ready to send ground forces to Turkey to protect it from any attack.

"NATO is ready to defend and protect all allies against any threat and this is valid also for Turkey. We have seen increased turmoil, violence, uncertainty to the south of NATO's borders in Syria and Iraq bordering Turkey," he told a press conference after a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels this afternoon.

"This is the reason why we have increased the readiness and preparedness of our forces. So that we can deploy our forces if needed. We are able to deploy forces to the south and to the east if and when needed," he stressed.

The Ministers took further steps on make the Alliance's collective defence stronger, Mi'raj Islamic News Agency quoted Kuwait News Agenc Kuna as reporting.

"We have given the green light to the completed plan for our enhanced NATO Response Force, including its command and control arrangements. We now have everything in place to make the Response Force stronger, faster and more capable. This force will count up to 40,000 troops," announced the NATO chief.

They also held a discussion on Syria and the recent violations of Turkish airspace by Russian aircraft. The Secretary General called on Russia "to play a constructive role in the fight against ISIL," adding that NATO stands in strong solidarity with Turkey.

They also discussed the security situation in Afghanistan. Stoltenberg said that Allies will later this year decide on the troop levels and where they will be based in Afghanistan. This will be done on the basis of a detailed security assessment, which is expected in the coming weeks. (T/R07/R01)

Mi'raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)