Turkey can play role in NATO plan
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 09, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - NATO’s outgoing secretary-general hinted yesterday that Turkey could play an important role in the transatlantic alliance’s new strategy plan, reported the Anatolia news agency.
His remarks came during a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, where he paid a farewell visit as Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen will take over the chief post in August.
"NATO has prepared a new strategy plan. We hope that Turkey can play an important role in NATO's new strategy plan," Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said, according to the news agency. "We plan to establish a ’Group of Wise Men,’ composed of 12 people, and wish to include Turkey in this group."
Sources said that while talking with Erdoğan, Scheffer expressed appreciation over Turkey's contributions in many regions, primarily in Afghanistan. Scheffer also met with President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ. ¤Scheffer, from the Netherlands, became NATO secretary-general on Jan. 5, 2004. He was the minister of foreign affairs of the Netherlands before he was appointed to this position.
"NATO has prepared a new strategy plan. We hope that Turkey can play an important role in NATO's new strategy plan," Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said, according to the news agency. "We plan to establish a ’Group of Wise Men,’ composed of 12 people, and wish to include Turkey in this group."
Sources said that while talking with Erdoğan, Scheffer expressed appreciation over Turkey's contributions in many regions, primarily in Afghanistan. Scheffer also met with President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ. ¤Scheffer, from the Netherlands, became NATO secretary-general on Jan. 5, 2004. He was the minister of foreign affairs of the Netherlands before he was appointed to this position.