ARMENIAN AND GREEK CYPRIOT LOBBIES UNITED AGAINST TURKEY
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 14 2006
WASHINGTON – Armenian and Greek Cypriot lobbies in Washington have
launched a joint campaign against the selling of 50 SLAM-ER smart
missiles to Turkey, NTV channel said.
Four MPs including Michael Bilirakis, Carolyn Maloney, Frank Pallone
and George Radanovich sent a letter to the US Congress, asking senior
officials to revise the selling of the missiles to Turkey. They
claimed that the selling of missiles would allow Turkey to threaten
Armenia and would break the arm balance in Cyprus.
The US Department of Defense has been seeking permission from the US
Congress to sell 50 SLAM-ER smart missiles to Turkey.
The SLAM-ER air-to-ground missiles will be attached to Turkey’s
F-16 warplanes.
The statement from the US Department of Defense said in late April
that the $162 million purchase offer from Turkey had been accepted.
The Boeing Company will produce the missiles and the payment will be
meet through military sale credits to Turkey.
The sale will be finalized within upcoming day if Congress does
not raise any objections. It is expected that Congress will ratify
the sale.