NATO Vows Not to 'Broaden Syria Role'

A Dutch Army `Patriot` defense missile system is set up at an airbase in Adana, Turkey, 26 January 2013

NATO has declared that it is not going to broaden its role in the Syrian conflict other than providing a platform for debate amongst its members and working to protect Turkey.

“NATO is a very important forum for consultation between its allies, and now also with its partners. This is important,” Robert Pszczel, director of the NATO information office in Moscow, said Saturday, as cited by RIA Novosti.

“The second element is what we’re doing in the sense of protection and defense of NATO members which are neighbors of Syria, I mean Turkey,” he said.

“For this, we’ve moved Patriots [air defense missiles] there.”

NATO agreed to deploy Patriot missile batteries along the Turkey-Syria border last December, in response to a formal request by Turkey.

Pszczel emphasized that NATO will take no other action regarding the situation in Syria, RIA Novosti informs. He added that the alliance is continuing efforts to work with Russia on all issues of missile defense.

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