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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