"Our company has been active in Israel for the past 16 years," Yilmazlar
general manager Ahmet Aruk said. "The Turkish state has faced various losses
in tenders won by Israel as Turkey was not able to adequately protect its
interests."
Executives said Yilmazlar has sought $200 million from IMI for breach of
the M-60 contract, Middle East Newsline reported. The Turkish company said an Israeli court froze $10
million worth of accounts in June 2010.
"We are demanding $200 million in compensation," Yilmazlar said. "This
is a first in Turkish foreign trade history and represents a demand for
justice in projects that have put the Turkish nation at a loss."
Aruk said IMI was blocking Turkish offsets connected to the M-60
project, which ended in April 2010. He said IMI and the Israeli government
had pledged that Yilmazlar and 800 Turkish workers could carry out
construction projects in Israel until 2015.
"IMI is obstructing the number of Turkish workers and their working
period in this project, against the interests of our company and Turkey,"
Aruk said. "It has been manipulating and violating the conditions of its
contract with the Turkish Defense Undersecretariat."
Yilmazlar has also sued Israel for taxes taken from Turkish construction
workers.
"We have also decided to carry to justice the projects that have been
awarded to Israel in the past 15 years and resulted in losses for the
Turkish economy, particularly in defense," Aruk said. "Furthermore, the
Turkish Defense Undersecretariat, the related ministry and individuals
responsible for losses in the M-60 tank modernization project will be taken
to court in Ankara."