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ANKARA: Ankara Delays Final Decision On Missile Defense System Until

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  • ANKARA: Ankara Delays Final Decision On Missile Defense System Until

    ANKARA DELAYS FINAL DECISION ON MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM UNTIL APRIL 24

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    Feb 20 2015

    February 20, 2015, Friday/ 17:00:20/ SERVET YANATMA / ANKARA

    Turkish decision-makers have agreed to postpone a final decision in
    a missile defense system acquisition tender until after April 24,
    the centennial of what Armenians call a genocide of their people,
    apparently linking the awarding of the contract to the French and US
    governments' stances on the events.

    NATO member Turkey chose the China Precision Machinery Import and
    Export Corp (CPMIEC) as its preferred bidder in 2013, and Defense
    Minister İsmet Yılmaz indicated on Thursday that Ankara was planning
    to continue with the Chinese system, saying the assessment of bids
    was completed.

    The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), however, clarified
    in a subsequent statement that a final decision had not been made yet,
    saying Turkey was still in discussion with other bidders.

    Eurosam, which is owned by Franco-Italian missile maker MBDA and
    France's Thales, is the second-best bidder in the tender. US-listed
    Raytheon Co. is also competing in the tender, with its Patriot missile
    defense system.

    The Armenian genocide claims have long been a thorn in Turkey's
    relations with Western countries. Ankara categorically denies claims
    that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred in eastern Anatolia as part
    of a systematic genocide campaign during World War I, and says there
    were deaths on both sides when Armenians revolted against the Ottoman
    Empire for independence.

    France recognizes the genocide allegations and an effort to criminalize
    its denial failed only because it was revoked by the country's
    Constitutional Council.

    US presidents traditionally release a statement on April 24 every
    year to commemorate the deaths of Armenians. No US president has so
    far referred to the deaths as "genocide," to the disappointment of
    the Armenian diaspora.

    Officials attending an SSM meeting in January on the missile defense
    tender agreed to wait a little longer before reaching a final decision,
    Today's Zaman has learned.

    The delay in announcing a final decision on the missile defense tender
    is seen as an effort to use it as leverage against any undesired
    steps from the US or France regarding the Armenian genocide claims,
    given the Armenians' stepped-up efforts for wider recognition in the
    run-up the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.

    A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said that the final decision on
    the missile defense system is "not being rushed," saying the Turkish
    authorities are conducting a thorough assessment in line with national
    interests. Speaking to Today's Zaman, the official declined to comment
    on the suggestion that the decision is used as leverage in efforts
    to counter Armenian lobbying ahead of April 24.

    http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_ankara-delays-final-decision-on-missile-defense-system-until-april-24_373183.html

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