ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his country had so far made no formal request from NATO for the deployment of Patriot missile batteries in Turkey.
"When necessary, steps can be taken within the alliance solidarity for the security of a member country or NATO territory. But at this stage, there is no formal demand that we passed on but talks are underway as part of contingency planning," Davutoglu told reporters in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Kamel Amr in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Davutoglu said such contingency planning had been underway for months, recalling that NATO had expressed strong solidarity with Turkey after five Turkish nationals were killed when stray Syrian artillery shells landed in Turkey's Akcakale town last month.
Responding to another question regarding intense firefight between Assad forces and rebels in Syria's Ras Al Ain town bordering Turkey's Ceylanpinar, Davutoglu said Turkish security and intelligence authorities closely monitored the situation and took necessary measures.
"We are monitoring all developments meticulously and we made necessary warning to the Syrian side when we feel the need. We hope these clashes end at once," he added.
