The
NATO delegation arrived at Tulga 1 Barracks in Malatya on Wednesday morning,
and will head to Altay Barracks and 7th Main Jet Base Command in Malatya
to continue their surveying, according to semi-official Anatolia news
agency.
Malatya is already hosting an early warning radar which is part of NATO
missile defense system capable of countering ballistic missile threats
from Iran.
The joint Turkish-NATO team will survey the provinces of Adana, Hatay,
Gaziantep and Sanliurfa to decide where to deploy the Patriot
missiles.
NATO countries that have advanced PAC-3 model Patriot
missiles, namely Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, will
decide if they will offer their missiles to Turkey.
Although Turkey said any deployment of Patriot
missiles by NATO would be of defensive purposes only, Russia, Iran and
Syria have already expressed opposition to the move.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned last week that such a deployment
could spark a "very serious armed conflict" involving NATO.
Russia's criticisms continued on Tuesday as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Andrei Denisov said that deployment of Patriot missile systems at the
Turkish-Syrian border would create more problems rather than solve any.
The deployment of Patriot
systems along the Turkish border with Syria might stem from plans to establish
the so-called no-fly zones, Russian diplomat said, referring to Turkish
army's statement on Monday that the deployment was not for a "no-fly
zone or offensive operations," but for dealing with "air or
missile threat from Syria."
Turkey stepped up the deployment of NATO Patriot
missiles after Syria reportedly shot down a Turkish warplane in Mediterranean
sea in June, killing two crew members. Clashes between Syrian government
and southern protestors have spilled over to Turkey, leaving five Turkish
nationals killed by a Syrian shelling in southern Akcakale town in Sanliurfa
province of Turkey.
After the Turkish military jet was shot down, Turkey announced it has
military rules of engagement with Syria. In October, Turkish government
get authorization from the parliament for possible cross-border military
incursions into Syria.
Turkey, a NATO member, appealed to the Alliance for the protection of
its border from any threats derived from Syria, not only mortar shelling,
but also chemical weapons which may fall into the hands of various groups
such as al-Qaida, a Turkish official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Syria is believed to have several hundred ballistic surface-to- surface
missiles in its arsenal capable of carrying chemical warheads.
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