Israel's defense minister in Turkey on way to U.S.
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
ANKARA Ñ Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has arrived
in
Turkey to promote joint military projects.
Officials said the Ben-Eliezer visit on Monday was meant to coordinate
positions on such issues as missile defense and the future of Israeli arms
sales to Ankara. Next week, Ben-Eliezer flies to Washington to meet his U.S.
counterpart, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Both Israel and Turkey are said to have upgraded their defense relations
over the past month. Officials from both countries expressed satisfaction
over the Anatolian Eagle air exercise, which included the air forces from
Israel, Turkey and the United States.
The exercise was said to have included the launch of the Arrow-2 missile
system. Turkey has expressed interest in the joint U.S.-Israeli missile
interceptor.
Ben-Eliezer was also expected to discuss Israeli arms sales to Turkey as
well as the Iranian threat. This includes the Israeli upgrade of the M-60
tank as well as the supply of an airborne early-warning radar, Gill
anti-tank missile and the Popeye air-to-ground missile. Israel has also
offered unmanned air vehicles to Ankara.
Israel, however, is said to have lost several arms deals, including one
for the sale of ammunition to Ankara. In February, Turkey was struck by a
fiscal crisis that led to the suspension of 32 military projects worth $19.5
billion.
Over the weekend, Israel's new ambassador to Ankara, David Sultan,
presented his credentials to President Ahmed Sezer. Sultan said the
cooperation between Ankara and Jerusalem would deter enemies of both
countries from launching an attack.
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