Gönül: Turkey not involved in US-proposed missile defense
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül yesterday said Turkey was not part of a project aimed at developing a U.S.-proposed anti-ballistic missile shield within NATO, saying that the country was capable of ensuring air security through its own military resources.
We're not involved in the project, Gönül told reporters here at a joint press conference with his visiting German counterpart, Franz Josef Jung. We ensure our air safety through our own capabilities.
The United States is pressing ahead with its own missile defenses and has recently announced plans to base missile interceptors in Poland and radar units in the Czech Republic but many NATO allies are concerned about the U.S. system to shoot down missiles fired by what Washington calls rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
The German defense minister had suggested, earlier, integrating the anti-missile system into NATO's defenses.
During his one-day visit to Turkey yesterday, Jung expressed hope that his talks here would serve the purpose of deepening bilateral relations with Turkey in the sphere of defense. He said Turkey and Germany took part in joint missions in a number of regions including the Balkans, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Jung neither confirms nor denies reports on the missing Iranian:
Asked about the alleged whereabouts of a former Iranian deputy defense minister who went missing in Turkey last month, the German defense minister declined to comment.
I cannot say anything on this issue, he said. The Sunday Times of London reported at the weekend that Ali Reza Asghari had been spying on Iran for Western intelligence since 2003 and was currently undergoing a debriefing at a NATO base in Germany after his escape. Earlier in the day, Jung met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül.
Turkish Daily News, LINK
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Editor's Comment : It seems USA's threat perception doesn't fit Turkey's, as a result, Turkey does not want dependency in air defense.
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül yesterday said Turkey was not part of a project aimed at developing a U.S.-proposed anti-ballistic missile shield within NATO, saying that the country was capable of ensuring air security through its own military resources.
We're not involved in the project, Gönül told reporters here at a joint press conference with his visiting German counterpart, Franz Josef Jung. We ensure our air safety through our own capabilities.
The United States is pressing ahead with its own missile defenses and has recently announced plans to base missile interceptors in Poland and radar units in the Czech Republic but many NATO allies are concerned about the U.S. system to shoot down missiles fired by what Washington calls rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
The German defense minister had suggested, earlier, integrating the anti-missile system into NATO's defenses.
During his one-day visit to Turkey yesterday, Jung expressed hope that his talks here would serve the purpose of deepening bilateral relations with Turkey in the sphere of defense. He said Turkey and Germany took part in joint missions in a number of regions including the Balkans, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Jung neither confirms nor denies reports on the missing Iranian:
Asked about the alleged whereabouts of a former Iranian deputy defense minister who went missing in Turkey last month, the German defense minister declined to comment.
I cannot say anything on this issue, he said. The Sunday Times of London reported at the weekend that Ali Reza Asghari had been spying on Iran for Western intelligence since 2003 and was currently undergoing a debriefing at a NATO base in Germany after his escape. Earlier in the day, Jung met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül.
Turkish Daily News, LINK
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Comment : It seems USA's threat perception doesn't fit Turkey's, as a result, Turkey does not want dependency in air defense.
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