Rasmussen: Plans to protect and defend Turkey ready

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday that he did not receive an official request from Turkey on deploying Patriot missiles along Syrian border but he was in touch with the Turkish government. Rasmussen also said that no such request had yet been received from Ankara, but that if it was it would be considered "as a matter of urgency. "The situation on Turkey-Syria border is a big concern. Our plans to protect and defend Turkey are all ready. When needed, such plans would be arranged for an effective protection and defense. If Turkey requested protection, we would assess that immediately," Rasmussen added.