Turkey to exercise control of Patriots, AKP deputy leader says
ISLAMABAD - Anatolia News Agency
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Turkey will have control over the Patriot missiles that are slated to be deployed on its border to Syria, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Hüseyin Çelik said today, according to daily Hürriyet.
No need for Parliament's permission for Patriots, Turkish PM says
A move to place Patriot missiles on Turkish soil is a NATO decision that does not require the assent of the Turkish Parliament, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said during a visit to Pakistan for a D-8 Summit.
"According to the Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, our soil is NATO's soil." he said. “The Turkish Parliament's permission is not needed for this process, as this is an action taken by NATO."
The Turkish military will determine appropriate locations for the deployment of the missiles, he said.
"This deployment should be seen only a defensive measure against possible attacks from [Syria on] the other side of the border,” he said.
Speaking about Turkey’s recent effort to secure a truce between Hamas and Israel, Erdoğan said: "Our visit to Cairo was also an attempt for a cease-fire. We wish to see this ceasefire continue.”