ID :
228416
Fri, 02/17/2012 - 16:09
Auther :

Turkey will never let a NATO facility be used by a third party, says FM Davutoglu

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday that Turkey would never let a NATO facility be used by a third party. And, if this third party happens to be Israel, our attitude gets more clear and visible, Davutoglu underlined. Minister Davutoglu and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Ankara on Friday. Asked about his thoughts on the attacks staged against several European offices of Zaman daily newspaper, Davutoglu said that "our response would have been same had other newspapers or correspondents come under attack". We strongly condemn the terror acts staged against the offices of Zaman daily. These attacks have been not only against a respectable newspaper of Turkey but against the freedom of expression and freedom of press in Europe, Davutoglu underlined. We expect all (European) countries to take active and protective measures, Davutoglu noted. Such attacks should never receive tolerance, and on the contrary, tight measures should be taken. The freedom of press must be defended in whole Europe, Davutoglu stressed. The attacks could not be excusable. We can not accept the fact that no measures have been taken to prevent such attacks. We are conducting the necessary initiatives with the French authorities and other relevant European countries. I would like to use this opportunity to mention that we wish the European correspondents of Zaman daily speedy recovery following the attacks and want to underline that we will always be in solidarity with them. Wherever the Turkish journalists are, our government will always support them so that they perform their duties easily, Davutoglu said. Asked if intelligence to be gathered by a NATO missile defense system would be shared with Israel, Rasmussen said that they were highly pleased with Turkey's decision to host one of those systems on its territory. Intelligence gathered by the missile defense system will not be shared with Israel. We will share the intelligence with our allies. The system is merely a defense one and intends to protect the peoples of NATO member countries, Rasmussen underlined. On the issue of the missile defense system, Minister Davutoglu said that NATO facilities could only be utilized by NATO member countries. Certain news reports alleging that the missile defense system in Turkey was recently tested by an Israeli missile were groundless and baseless, Davutoglu noted. We will never let a NATO facility be used by a third party. I want to make this very clear. And, if this party was Israel, our attitude would be more clear and visible, Davutoglu also said.

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