World
Dutch Cabinet agrees to missiles
Dec 7, 2012 / 6:46 am
The Dutch government approved a NATO request Friday to send two batteries of Patriot missile defence systems to Turkey, following in Germany's footsteps, Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said.
Parliament must sign off on the Cabinet decision, but Prime Minister Mark Rutte's two-party coalition has a comfortable majority in the 150-seat lower house, so the vote is expected to be a formality.
The Dutch decision comes a day after Germany agreed to send two Patriot batteries and troops to Turkey's southern border with Syria at NATO's request.
The Western alliance approved sending the weapons to prevent cross-border attacks against Turkey after mortar rounds and shells from Syria killed five Turks.
"It is very restive along the border, with escalating violence and the risk that it could spill over into neighbouring countries," Timmermans told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Timmermans said a maximum of 360 Dutch troops will also be sent to operate the Patriot systems in a yearlong deployment.
Read more World News
Canada Discussion Forum
United Nations
World Health Organization
UNESCO
World Trade Organization
NATO
European Union
The Commonwealth
Francophonie
Olympics
Google Earth
World News Network | One World
Press Display
New York Times | Washington Post
MSNBC | CNN
BBC | Al Jazeera
- Pope Francis blesses Harley-Davidsons
- Earthquake strikes south of Mexico City
- 24 dead in new wave of Iraq attacks
- Cat vies for mayor of Mexican city
- N Korea proposes nuclear talks with US
- Rowhani wins Iran election
- A parade fit for a Queen
- Hezbollah vows to keep fighting in Syria
- Woman mauled by chimp can't sue state
- Early results in Iran presidential election
- Newtown, Conn: six months later
- Boston woman pays $560K to park
this page.(Click for RSS instructions.)
