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BRUSSELS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Belgium will block NATO planning
for the protection of Turkey in the event of a war in Iraq,
Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said on Sunday.
Asked if Belgium would break a "silence procedure"
called by NATO Secretary-General George Robertson under which each
of the 19 allies has until 0900 GMT on Monday to raise objections,
Michel told Belgium's VRT Dutch-language television:
"Yes, of course. We are now busy with France and I think
also with Germany to write this letter to again fully use this
veto. We are going to block it between now and Monday -- it is
settled."
France, Germany and Belgium, which argue against a rush to war,
have argued for three weeks that preparations to defend Turkey
could undermine diplomatic efforts to avert a conflict.
Diplomats said Belgium's confirmation that it will stall the
proposals at NATO were a strong indication that France -- which it
has shadowed on this issue -- would follow suit.
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