09/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU is treating Turkey “unfairly” as, because of the Cypriot veto, it is not allowing it to conclude an agreement with the European Defence Agency (EDA), said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, reported in the Danish daily, Politiken, on 7 July. “It is important that we keep Turkey in a close partnership with not only NATO - where Turkey is a very valuable ally - but also in the relationship with the EU”, Rasmussen said. Unlike Norway, which has been able to conclude an administrative arrangement with the EDA, which allows it to be involved in certain EDA activities, Turkey is unable to obtain such an accord. “In fact, I feel it is unfair. Norway, which is also not a member of the EU, has an agreement with the EDA. Why cannot Turkey also have one? I can't see any explanation for this”, Rasmussen deplored. He also considers Turkey should play a decision-making role regarding ESDP missions of the EU, in which it takes part. (H.B./transl.jl)