Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- "Three of Turkey's neighbors - Iran, Iraq and Syria - are on Washington's list of countries supporting terrorism." [The three targets listed above are secular regimes with no remote connection to Osama bin Laden, quite the contrary, unlike U.S./Western client states Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, all monarchies or theocracies. which do.] Saturday September 15, 12:32 AM Turkish leaders pledge support to NATO action on US attacks ANKARA, Sept 14 (AFP) - Turkish leaders on Friday expressed their full backing for a possible joint NATO action under the Alliance's collective defence clause to punish those behind the devastating terrorist attacks in the United States. In an interview with CNN International broadcast on Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that NATO-member Ankara would take part in a joint NATO strike even if it targeted one of its neighbours. Ecevit justified such an action on the grounds that terrorism had "no boundaries" and was "inhuman from wherever it comes from". "Whoever inflicts terrorism on humanity on any country should be dealt with very seriously," he said. For the first time in its history on Wednesday, NATO invoked Article 5 following Tuesday's strike against the twin-tower World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. Under the said article, an attack on a member is considered an attack on the entire alliance. Three of Turkey's neighbours -- Iran, Iraq and Syria -- are on Washington's list of countries supporting terrorism. Asked whether Turkey would allow a key air base in its south to be used in a NATO campaign, the prime minister refrained from giving a definite answer, but added: "Of course in principle we will cooperate with the NATO countries and with other allies." The Incirlik air base is host to a force of some 40 British and US planes which are tasked with patrolling the no-fly zone imposed on northern Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War to protect the region's Kurdish population. During the Gulf War, Turkey allowed the base to be used in the air campaign against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Ecevit declared that Turkey was "prepared for all sorts of possibilities". Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, meanwhile, expressed hope Friday that NATO's collective defence clause would apply equally to all member states. "I hope that the activation of Article Five for this type of attack will apply to other members as well and not only the United States," he told reporters here. Some 36,500 people have died in Turkey in the last two decades as rebel Kurds fighting for an independent state in the southeast of the country have carried out regular terrorist attacks. "We are ready to share with our friends our experiences in the domain of terrorism," he said. __________________________________________________ Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help? Donate cash, emergency relief information http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
