Malaysia Supports Move to Block NATO Plan to Defend Turkey: PM

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Malaysia Supports Move to Block NATO Plan to Defend Turkey: PM

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Tuesday Malaysia fully supports the move by France, Germany and Belgium to block NATO's military plan to protect Turkey ahead of a war in Iraq.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Tuesday Malaysia fully supports the move by France, Germany and Belgium to block NATO's military plan to protect Turkey ahead of a war in Iraq.

"Well, it is obvious their stand is not to wage war, and to find some other solutions to settle this problem with Iraq," the prime minister told reporters here.

"And I think, we are fully supportive of this," Mahathir said when asked on the move by France, Germany and Belgium to block the automatic start of NATO procedures for the military planning to protect Turkey.

France, Germany and Belgium argued that preparations to defend Turkey could be seen as sanctioning military actions against Iraq before diplomatic initiatives have been exhausted.

As a likely launchpad for a strike against Iraq, Turkey is nervous about possible counter-attacks on its southern flank.

French President Jacques Chirac reaffirmed Monday that "nothing justifies a war" on Iraq, insisting that the goal of disarming Iraq could be reached through United Nations weapons inspections.

But US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday criticized France, Germany and Belgium for blocking NATO efforts to provide military assistance for Turkey to defend itself in the event of a US-led war on Iraq.

"I hope that NATO will now realize that they have an obligationto assist a NATO member who asks for help," Powell said.

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