Turkey İn Talks Over Missile Defense Systems, Says Official

Although admitting existence of a party with which Turkey is negotiating, there is no decision yet on the purchase of long-range missile defense systems, Turkey's defense undersecretary, Ismail Demir, said on Friday.



Speaking during the Azerbaijan International Defense Industry Exhibition in the country's capital Baku, Demir said negotiations had been proceeding since Turkey received new sale offers for long-range missile defense systems.



"We hear all countries. There is a party [with] which Turkey has held serious negotiations. We did not close the door to anyone," Demir said.



The China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation previously placed the lowest bid of $3.44 billion for the tender of the long-range missile defense systems in September 2013 in addition to possible technology transfer opportunities. Rival companies from Russia, the U.S. and Europe offered above $4 billion and no technology transfer.



However, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and senators from the U.S. Congress have voiced concerns, claiming that CPMIEC is exposed to U.S. sanctions.



There are also fears that the security of the systems cannot be guaranteed against risk of operational data leakage since NATO systems run in an inter-operable web and Turkey is a NATO member.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara