NATO delegation in Turkey

Turkish Chief of General Staff stated on Monday that the reconnaissance of areas for deployment of Patriot air and missile defense systems in Turkey would begin on Tuesday, adding that deployment of those systems would be only for defense purposes against an air and missile threat from Syria. "The deployment of the air and missile defense system is only to counter an air or missile threat originating in Syria and is a measure entirely aimed at defense," the General Staff said, adding, "That it will be used to form a no-fly zone or for an offensive operation is out of the question." Furthermore, a NATO delegation consisting of 30 officials yesterday arrived in Turkey to survey possible sites for the deployment of Patriot missiles on Turkey's border with Syria on Tuesday.