Syria Criticizes NATO Decision to Send Turkey Patriot Missiles

NATO voted to send patriot missiles to Turkey on Tuesday to help the country bolster its defenses against the unrest in neighboring Syria. Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told the media after the alliance issued its decision that "Turkey asked for NATO's support, and we stand with Turkey in a spirit of strong solidarity," as quoted by the New York Times. Rasmussen also noted that the decision to help boost Turkey's air defense was meant as a defensive measure, not an offensive one, and that NATO has "no intention to intervene militarily" in the violence in Syria.

Syria, for its part, has decried NATO's decision to send Turkey the missiles, calling the move "provocative," as quoted by the Associated Press. Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has said that there is "absolutely no justification" for doing so, as "Syria will not attack the friendly people of Turkey."

Here is some of the key information to have emerged regarding the conflict in Syria and NATO's decision to send missiles to Turkey.

* According to the New York Times report, NATO also discussed reports that Syria may be moving chemical weapons components as a precursor to using them, something which Mekdad has denied will happen.

* Russia reportedly objected to Turkey's request for missile defense support, on the grounds that it may pave the way for NATO to become involved in the conflict in Syria in a more direct military capacity.

* NATO's decision to send missile batteries to Turkey must be approved by the individual governments of its member nations as well. A CGH/Wire Services report on Thursday morning stated that Germany's cabinet has already done so, sending the proposal on to its parliament for final approval.

* The New York Times reported that the Dutch cabinet is expected to follow suit with its approval on Friday.

* According to a report by the Washington Post, the missile defense systems being sent to Turkey won't provide any protection for people in Syria. However, the report noted that military experts familiar with Patriot missiles have said that they are equally effective at providing defense against both missiles and aircraft, so if NATO countries were to decide at a later date to become involved in the Syrian conflict, the systems would already be in place.

* In the meantime, Euronews reported that Turkey has had to scramble its warplanes in recent weeks, as the internal conflict in Syria threatened to infringe on its neighbor's territory.

Vanessa Evans is a musician, traveler, and freelance writer, with an interest in European studies and events.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-criticizes-nato-decision-send-turkey-patriot-missiles-185100523.html

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