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TURKEY, ISRAEL TO FACE NEW CRISIS OVER TURKISH SPY SATELLITE PROJECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2011 - 19:55 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey and Israel are likely to face a new crisis
over Turkey's Gokturk electro-optical satellite project, which will
pave the way for the Turkish military to gather its own intelligence.
The project will enable Turkey to acquire high-resolution images for
military intelligence in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East. It
will also strengthen Turkey's hand in fighting the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK).
Concerned that the satellite will gather images of its territory,
Israel has pressured France, which is working on the construction of
the satellite in cooperation with the Italian-based company Telespazio,
to stop the project. Given the possibility that its efforts in France
may yield no results, Israeli officials are also lobbying in Ankara.
Once the satellite is launched in 2012, Turkey will be able to sell
the images it obtains to other countries as well. Israel is currently
attempting to negotiate with Turkish officials in order to ensure
Turkey does not sell images of Israel to other states and Palestine.
However, the response from Turkish officials was clear: "We will
decide how to use the images taken by our satellite."
Speaking to Today's Zaman, high-level officials from the Turkish
Defense Ministry said: "For years, Israel has obtained images of
our territory. For the first time, we will have a satellite for
intelligence. Reciprocity is essential in international relations. If
they observe Turkish soil, Turkey has the same right, too."
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2011 - 19:55 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey and Israel are likely to face a new crisis
over Turkey's Gokturk electro-optical satellite project, which will
pave the way for the Turkish military to gather its own intelligence.
The project will enable Turkey to acquire high-resolution images for
military intelligence in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East. It
will also strengthen Turkey's hand in fighting the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK).
Concerned that the satellite will gather images of its territory,
Israel has pressured France, which is working on the construction of
the satellite in cooperation with the Italian-based company Telespazio,
to stop the project. Given the possibility that its efforts in France
may yield no results, Israeli officials are also lobbying in Ankara.
Once the satellite is launched in 2012, Turkey will be able to sell
the images it obtains to other countries as well. Israel is currently
attempting to negotiate with Turkish officials in order to ensure
Turkey does not sell images of Israel to other states and Palestine.
However, the response from Turkish officials was clear: "We will
decide how to use the images taken by our satellite."
Speaking to Today's Zaman, high-level officials from the Turkish
Defense Ministry said: "For years, Israel has obtained images of
our territory. For the first time, we will have a satellite for
intelligence. Reciprocity is essential in international relations. If
they observe Turkish soil, Turkey has the same right, too."