http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tu...tems.aspx?pageID=238&nID=105877&NewsCatID=345
Turkey canceled a long-standing anti-ballistic missile system tender last year, but it said the project is still alive. “We have canceled the tender and not the project. Our efforts to develop the system with our national resources are continuing,” Demir said.
However, Turkey is in talks with
Russia over the systems as outlined during a recent visit by
Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey.
Alexander Fomin, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said on Nov. 7 that
Russia planned to discuss the issue of deliveries of air defense systems to Turkey as it is on the agenda of Russian-Turkish military cooperation.
“When it comes to large air defense system, they can be referred to as anti-missile systems. If they are large air defense systems, they are also considered as missile defense protection systems. Nowadays, such systems like the Buk can hit missiles even at medium range, to say nothing about the S 300 and S 400,” Fomin said.
Demir did not want to directly comment on Fomin’s statement but stressed that Turkey was ready to speak with any country that favors engaging in technical cooperation with the Turkish government. “Our door is open and our stance is well-known,” he said.
Asked whether Turkey would opt for the direct purchase of such systems in the event that Russia offers to sell its high-tech S-400 anti-ballistic missile systems, Demir refrained from making a direct comment on the issue, choosing instead to repeat Ankara’s principles.
“We are ready to develop these systems with our national resources and also for cooperation,” he said, while adding that in the event this process takes longer than presumed, they would consider the direct purchase option as well.
