Brussels, 05/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - NATO sources have confirmed reports by The New York Times whereby the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey have finalised a draft agreement (still to be formally approved) on the participation of European but non-EU NATO members in EU-led military operations. According to The New York Times, Turkey (which has threatened that, unless it gains satisfaction on its involvement in this process, it will block EU access to NATO resources and assets for such operations) has, under the compromise, a political assurance that the future EU force will not intervene in the political disputes of NATO allies (an obvious reference to Turkey's disputes with Greece). The New York Times stresses the role played in this affair by Emyr Jones Parry, Political Director of the British Foreign Office, pointing out that, under the compromise, the European NATO members that do not belong to the EU will have "interlocutors" who will meet periodically at the EU's Special Political Committee. These nations will also have military liaison officers permanently attached to the European Union defence staff. Furthermore, a special Committee of Contributors would be convened during an EU military operation to oversee the daily management of the operations. Turkey would be a member if an operation were planned for its region.