Davutoglu meets Rasmussen on the occasion of Turkey's 60th year in NATO

As part of his visit to Brussels on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu delivered a speech at NATO headquarters on the occasion of Turkey's 60th year in NATO and also met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. In his speech addressing the council after a private session with Rasmussen, Davutoglu said that Turkey, which had become a NATO member during the Cold War era as a result of its strategic preference, was one of the members making greatest contributions to the alliance as part of its regional and global peace efforts. "Turkey now needs NATO even more than ever," said Davutoglu, adding that both the new Turkey and NATO will plan responses to be made to future threats as a family. In reply to reporters' questions about recent negative statements from Iran with regard to missile defense, Davutoglu said that positive statements regarding the importance of bilateral relations should not be avoided, either. Stating that the missile defense is an important strategic decision by NATO, Davutoglu said that it has only defense purposes without any intention to target any country or region.