NATO Starts Consultations on Iraqi Crisis: NATO Chief

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 11, 2003

NATO Starts Consultations on Iraqi Crisis: NATO Chief

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Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) George Robertson said in Brussels on Monday that NATO had started consultations on the Iraq issue following a formal request from Turkey.

Turkey made the request after France, Germany and Belgium broke the "silence procedure" on the Iraq issue on Monday morning. The three countries blocked the start of NATO military planning for protecting Turkey from any military threat from Iraq in case of a war in the Gulf.

The silence procedure was invoked by Robertson last Thursday after NATO remained deeply divided for more than three weeks on a United States request for provision of military support for Turkeyin case of war against Iraq.

"Silence on the technical issue of tasking the NATO Military Authorities to undertake prudent contingency planning to deter or defend against a possible threat to Turkey was broken by three NATO countries this morning. In parallel, Turkey has requested consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty," he told reporters at a press conference at the NATO headquarters.

Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty states, "The parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, theterritorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened."

"These consultations began this morning and will resume this afternoon, at a meeting of the NATO Council at 4:30 p.m.," Robertson added.

While confessing this was a difficult situation, he said the military alliance was united in its commitment to the security of all NATO members and he was confident the member countries would reach a consensus.

Local reports said this breaking of the silence procedure was aclear indication of deepening rift among NATO members on the Iraqicrisis as well as a widening division in the transatlantic ties.

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