Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said Friday that Ankara would not yield on its objections over proposals to tighten links between NATO and the European Union.
"We are insisting on our views because if we are left outside the European Security and Defense Identity, we could face many dangers," Ecevit told reporters here and NATO foreign ministers debated the issue in Brussels.
"Neither is there any sign that there might be a change in the European approach" on the ESDI, the Prime Minister added.
Ecevit's comments came during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels which had deadlocked due to Ankara's concerns over the nature of EU-NATO relations and a planned European rapid reaction force.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952 and a candidate to join the EU, opposes proposals to give the union full-time access to NATO planning for the 60,000-man European rapid reaction force that is to be in place in 2003
Turkey says it will not automatically allow NATO equipment and men to be used for the EU rapid reaction force unless it is allowed to take part in the decision-making process in EU-led operations that will use NATO assets.
Ankara has expressed readiness to contribute to the EU rapid reaction force, but Turkish officials have warned that Turkey's contribution would be "in proportion to the fulfillment of our expectations regarding the ESDI."
The EU, on the other hand, is offering to hold consultations with non-EU member states which are members of NATO -- such as Turkey -- on their common defense policy, but opposes including these countries in the decision-making process.
Ankara has already threatened to veto the European defense plans if its demands are not met.
The threat prompted US President Bill Clinton to write a letter to Ecevit earlier in the week to persuade Ankara to support the plan.
Ecevit revealed Friday that the outgoing US president had telephoned him Thursday evening over the ESDI, but did not elaborate on the content of their conversation.
"I hope the Americans will better evaluate our problems. There is no change in our opinion," he said -- ANKARA (AFP)
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