Eyes of the alliance on Ankara

The priority item on the agenda for the NATO meeting will be Ankara’s role in Afghanistan’s future. Meanwhile, today, Gül will speak with Rasmussen regarding the appointment of a Turk for his assistance and reaching a compromise with the Taliban.

An unofficial NATO meeting commenced yesterday in Istanbul bringing together 35 different nation’s state ministers, 28 of which are alliance countries. Minister of National Security Vecdi Gönül is hosting the meeting in the Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center, in which US Minister of Defense Robert Gates and Armenia’s National Security Minister Seyran Ohanyan is also in attendance. The main item on the agenda for the meeting is the needs of ISAF, the 41,000 strong NATO military presence in Afghanistan since 2003 and the collapse of the Taliban regime. The issue of the US sending additional troops will also be laid on the table. US Minister of Defense Robert Gates will also meet with Prime Minister Erdoğan in Ankara following the meeting.

Today, President Abdullah Gül will give an address during the meeting, following a meeting with NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen. During the meeting, Gül will discuss the appointment of a Turk, NATO relations to Muslim nations and ISAF needs.