NATO Rules Out Intervention in Syria

BRUSSELS (NNN-KUNA) -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Friday stressed that the Alliance is not preparing to intervene in any other country after it concludes its mission in Libya.

"NATO has no intention to intervene in Syria or other countries. We took on the responsibility in Libya because there was a clear UN mandate and because there was a strong support from the region," he told a gathering of diplomats and journalists at a breakfast event, hosted by the European Policy Centre think-tank in Brussels.

"None of these conditions are fulfilled regarding Syria or any other country," Rasmussen noted. The NATO chief called for closer cooperation with countries in the Gulf and the Middle East.

"Building on the success of our Libya operation, the Alliance should also be much better connected with its southern neighbours - across the Mediterranean and into the Middle East and Gulf regions."

"We have many shared concerns from fighting extremism, through security sector reform, to maritime security. I want us to tackle these concerns together. If we do, we all have so much to gain," he said.

Replying to a question on growing cooperation between NATO and Israel and on reports that Israel wants to open an office at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Rasmussen said "partners can establish missions at NATO headquarters and partners also include Israel."

"Its a decision that has been taken and it applies to all partners," he explained.

Rasmussen called for a positive engagement with Pakistan for the sake of regional peace and stability.

"We need a strong partnership with Pakistan, but we encourage the Pakistani military and the Pakistani government to do its outmost to fight extremism and terrorism in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

Commenting on rising tensions between Turkey and Cyprus over oil drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean, the NATO chief said he did not think there was any danger of an armed conflict breaking out.

Ramussen urged Cyprus and Turkey to find peaceful solution through constructive dialogue.

Referring to the next NATO summit in Chicago in May he said the backdrop to that summit is the global economic crisis. "There is no contradiction between being concerned about the economy and being concerned about security. Because economy and security are interlinked," he said.

Rasmussen said the Chicago summit will lay out the detail of NATO's commitment to complete transition in Afghanistan by 2014, by agreeing a strategic plan engagement throughout the transition period, and beyond.

On missile defence, he noted that Poland, Romania and Turkey have already agreed to host key elements of this system.

"My goal for Chicago is that we declare an interim operational capability for NATO's territorial missile defence. We will then be able to receive early warning of missile launches directed against us," he added. -- NNN-KUNA