Turkish, Dutch and German defense ministers survey Patriots in Adana

Turkish National Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière and Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert surveyed on Saturday Patriot air defense systems which were installed in Turkey's southern Adana province.

The ministers visited the 10th Tank Base Command in Incirlik base where Patriot system was deployed upon Turkey's demand from NATO against a possible missile threat from Syria.

Dutch Patriot launcher, Adana, Turkey.
Photo: MoD, the Netherlands

Dutch minister said that the Netherlands, as a NATO state, undertook its responsibility, and helped Turkey, which was another NATO member state.

Yilmaz said that it was necessary to work together to restore peace in the world.

Noting that restoring peace was one of the goals of NATO, Yilmaz thanked Germany, the Netherlands and US which responded Turkey's demand rapidly.

The ministers then proceeded to Kahramanmaras city.

(Anadolu Agency, 23 February 2013)