NATO Secretary-General George Robertson told a press conference that "I'm happy to announce that we have been able collectively to overcome the impasse that we've faced for the last few days."

"We agree on substance, we agree on timing, and we agree on how to integrate our collective solidarity with Turkey," he said. "The solidarity of the Alliance has prevailed."

NATO reached the agreement at around 11:30 p.m. (2230 GMT) during a marathon meeting of its 18-member Defense Planning Committee (DPC), on which France does not sit. Paris withdrew from NATO's integrated military command in 1966.

Germany, France and Belgium immediately issued a joint declaration stressing that the accord "does not in any way prejudge ongoing efforts" to work within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 to reach a peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis.

The three countries have been blocking US proposals to give military support to Turkey in the event of an Iraq war, arguing that NATO should not send a wrong signal while diplomacy continues.

"We would have preferred to have a decision by the 19 members of the North Atlantic Council. France has got its own position, it can answer for itself," Robertson said.

"But today was a remarkable day...an important signal that we will stand by an ally if that ally is under threat. This is not a step towards going to war," he said.

"This decision relates only to the defense of Turkey, and is without prejudice to any other military operations by NATO, and future decisions by NATO or the UN Security Council," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2003)