BRUSSELS, Dec 14: Belgium on Friday raised the possibility of full European Union participation in an international military force in Afghanistan.

Speaking only hours after EU leaders opened the bloc’s year-end summit in Laeken, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel told reporters all 15 EU governments were ready to participate in a United Nations-mandated peace operation in Afghanistan.

“This is a significant precedent...and an important turning point for the EU,” insisted Michel, whose country is current president of the EU.

But in separate comments other EU governments insisted this would not be collective European operation as implied by Michel. Instead, each government would decide separately whether or not to send soldiers to the international force.

“Clearly we are not talking about an operation under the flag of European Defence and Security Policy,” said a diplomat.

Details of the EU contribution and the mandate of the force to be deployed in Afghanistan will be hammered out in the coming days by the UN Security Council.

Michel said the international force would most probably be led by Britain with other EU countries making different types of contributions. Other nations, including Turkey, are also expected to participate, with European governments contributing about 4,000 soldiers.

The troops will help to assure the political stability of Afghanistan and ensure that the war-ravaged country returns to normal, diplomats said.