NATO to decide soon on deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey

NATO is "making good progress" on Turkey's request to deploy Patriot missiles at its border with Syria, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said. "Everybody has been working very hard. NATO ambassadors, NATO military authorities and, of course, the site assessment team, who are currently continuing their work in Turkey as we speak. So, everybody is working hard to make sure that we are in a position to make a decision on Turkey's request in the next few days," she noted, in a statement to journalists late on Friday. Meanwhile, a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, due on December 4-5 in Brussels, is an opportunity for the officials to review progress made in implementing decisions of the NATO Chicago Summit in May, said the spokesperson. She said aim of NATO is to re-energise relations with Russia, further enhance "our relationship with our partners including Georgia and review transition process in Afghanistan and our support for the Afghan security forces after 2014." Over a banquet due on Tuesday, the ministers will focus on developments in the Middle East, North Africa and impact of developments in these regions on the partnerships that "we have with countries in the region," Lungescu added. Foreign ministers of NATO allies will meet with their colleagues from the 22 other ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) countries and with international partners, including Japan, the European Union and the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Afghanistan, Jan Kubis. This session which will look at ensuring support Afghan forces will need after 2014, after they take over full responsibility for security across the country.