No talk with Russia over missile system, says official
Turkey has rejected claims that it has been in negotiations with Russia over a long-range air defense system.
Speaking on Friday, Ismail Demir, Turkeys undersecretary for defense industries, said: There is no official talk with Russia.
Demir was attending a conference on the countrys defense sector in Istanbul.
Local media had reported that Moscow renewed its interest in the missile project and said it previously revised a bid to sell Ankara its S-400 missile system.
We announced which country won the tender of the missile defense system, Demir added.
Turkey, a NATO member state since 1955, announced in September it had decided on an FD-2000 missile defense system worth US$3.4 billion from China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp over systems from the Italian-French and American companies.
However, CPMIEC faced sanctions by the U.S. government for its violations of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Non-proliferation Act. NATO and the U.S. are pressuring Ankara not to build a missile defense system in co-operation with a company from a non-NATO-member state, saying that the Chinese system is incompatible with NATO technology.
Demir stated that Turkey not only wants a missile defense system but a technology transfer as well. Turkey wants that the missile system can be equipped with the latest technology after 10 or 15 years. Thats why we are seeking a technology transfer too, Demir said.
Anadolu Agency
Demir was attending a conference on the countrys defense sector in Istanbul.
Local media had reported that Moscow renewed its interest in the missile project and said it previously revised a bid to sell Ankara its S-400 missile system.
We announced which country won the tender of the missile defense system, Demir added.
Turkey, a NATO member state since 1955, announced in September it had decided on an FD-2000 missile defense system worth US$3.4 billion from China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp over systems from the Italian-French and American companies.
However, CPMIEC faced sanctions by the U.S. government for its violations of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Non-proliferation Act. NATO and the U.S. are pressuring Ankara not to build a missile defense system in co-operation with a company from a non-NATO-member state, saying that the Chinese system is incompatible with NATO technology.
Demir stated that Turkey not only wants a missile defense system but a technology transfer as well. Turkey wants that the missile system can be equipped with the latest technology after 10 or 15 years. Thats why we are seeking a technology transfer too, Demir said.
Anadolu Agency