NATO's Scheffer: "NATO's new missile defense system will include Turkey"

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer yesterday said NATO is now making plans for a new short-range missile defense system. "The planned US missile defense system doesn't cover all of Europe, but NATO's new missile system would encompass Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania," said Scheffer, stressing that NATO should protect all its allies as required under the principle of the indivisibility of security. He also added that this new short-range missile defense system could be joined with the planned US missile defense system in the future. In related news, Turkey's NATO Permanent Representative Tacan Ildem said that Turkey would support NATO's new missile defense system, stating that excluding some countries from the system would harm the principle of the indivisibility of security. State Minister in Charge of the Economy Mehmet Simsek said yesterday that Turkey doesn't need any new standby agreement with the International Monetary Found, stressing that Turkey's economy has become resistant to global shocks and crises. "Turkey will focus on other options in its relations with the IMF in the years to come," said Simsek. He also added that Turkey will probably pass proposed social security reforms. To release a credit tranche worth $1.3 billion to Turkey, the IMF stipulates the passage of those reforms.